The state government of Andhra Pradesh has identified biotechnology as one of the growth engines and is taking measures for promoting the sector. Hyderabad has become the destination of choice for corporate and entrepreneurs desiring to enter the biotech sector.
The state's biotech policy has been aimed at promoting conservation of biodiversity and sustainable exploitation of bio-resources, developing high quality infrastructure with the required support services for manufacturing units by setting up specialised biotech parks in various parts of the state and to facilitate the flow of venture capital funds and bank credit to biotech companies. In pursuance of this, AP government has already taken up various initiatives.
D.N. Mohan, Director of Biotechnology, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, revealed some of the developments in the biotech sector in the state. The state government has declared an area of 600 sq. kms. covering the mandals of Shameerpet, Medchal, Keesra and Uppal in Ranga Reddy district as the Genome valley in which biotech activities will be encouraged and promoted. It will be India's first state-of-the-art biotech cluster providing world class infrastructure to over 100 biotech companies.
ICICI Knowledge Park at Turkapally, near Hyderabad, is set to launch phase-III. The state government will release Rs. 5 crore and the work will start by October/ November. Around Rs. 40 crore had been invested so far on the project. The companies that have already set up units in the Park include GVK Biosciences, Matrix Laboratories, Optiwave Photonics, Bioserve Biotechnologies, Krebs Biochemicals, Sai Dru Syn Laboratories, Indigene Pharmaceuticals, Helvetica Pharmaceuticals, Bijam Biosciences and IICT.
Confederation of Indian Industry and Andhra Pradesh Technology Development Centre (APTDC) with the help of Govt. of AP had established an Integrated IPR facilitating Cell at ICICI Knowledge Park. This Cell is being established to cater to the growing demands of the industries in AP for Patent search and analysis, Patentability advisory services, IPR awareness and training.
A Biotech Park is being developed at Turkapally in Shameerpet mandal, near Hyderabad, by Shapoorji Pallonji & Co, in association with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. A joint venture company, Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park Private Ltd, has been incorporated for developing and managing the park. The first phase of the park has been completed and has 100 per cent occupancy. In the second phase additional 160 acres have been allotted. Some of the prominent companies which had booked the plots include Sendor Medicaids, KCP Biotech, Genotex International, Maanya Biotech and Zenotech Labs Private Ltd. Genotex is in progress with its construction of unit and is to commission within next five months.
Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park Pvt. Ltd (SPBP) will be equipped with a Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC), Business Enterprise Zone and commercial manufacturing facilities. The SPBP and Government of Andhra Pradesh sought IICT's scientific expertise and design engineering capabilities to set up BTIC in the SPBP premises. The institute has conveyed its willingness to undertake the task. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, is keen to support such a venture and an expert committee has already been constituted to evaluate the project. An investment of Rs. 24 crore will be made towards the first phase. The work is likely to begin by the end of 2003 and the center will be operational within 2 years from then.
An Agri-Business Incubator is to be set up which will provide business support to existing and new agri- business, developed and housed at ICRISAT. The incubator will help in reducing the risk in commercialization of Agri-Technologies. The incubator will accelerate the development and transfer of agricultural based technology and thereby helping in continuous improvement and innovation. It provides the required infrastructure support and environment to entrepreneurs on cost basis for commercializing technologies developed by ICRISAT and its partners and other institutions like ICAR and CSIR.
ICRISAT has contributed 10000 sq. ft. of lab, administration space, undeveloped space, farm space, glasshouse, and transgenic glass house space as required. The incubator can also provide services on marketing assistance, quality evaluation, research and development and custom technical assistance from development banks. Avasthagen has set up a unit at ICRISAT to test genetically the purity of crops.
International Institute of Life Sciences is to be set up at Hyderabad. It will be a center of excellence in industry-driven Life Science Research. It will be set up through public-private partnership. It is going to be developed in the premises of University of Hyderabad in an area of five acres. The institute will not offer any course on biotechnology, rather, it is going to focus on problem oriented researches which may relate to biological, chemical or medical aspects.
Corporate such as Dr. Reddys, Pfizer and Aurobindo are contributing to this plan. The institute is to be operational by March, 2005.
Development of a Biotechnological Society comprising government servants, industrialists, advisors and scientists as members, is also proposed, for the further development of the sector.