The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has proposed to join hands with the ministry of information technology (IT) to set up Bio IT parks for the promotion of the bioinformatics industry in the country. The department also intends to support high-risk projects in bioinformatics through special mechanisms including public-private partnerships.
The DBT plans for the promotion of bioinformatics have been unveiled in the National Biotechnology Strategy Draft that is being finalised. According to DBT, investment in bioinformatics should triple in the next five years. This would help DBT strengthen bioinformatics infrastructure meant for hardcore research as well as high-end human resource development.
The department also plans to make available super computing facilities with 10 teraflops computing capacity on biogrid to promote protein folding and drug design activities. Broadband Internet connectivity for bioinformatics research and manpower development at subsidized rates is another objective of the department.
Since there are many government departments and agencies like CSIR, ICMR, ICAR, DST and MIT that support bioinformatics activities, DBT would propose the establishment of an independent inter departmental agency to coordinate these activities. The agency will also be empowered by legislation to provide the direction and oversee the implementation of the coordinated action plan.
The development of an institutional mechanism for testing public domain databases and software and making them available to the users from the academia and the industry is another time bound objective of the department. Testing of commercial databases and software before the industry invests in the products is planned to help the industry to reduce their costs and use only certified products.
Human resource development in bioinformatics being an important area, DBT intends to produce 50-100 quality PhDs, 500 MSc and 500 advanced diploma holders in bioinformatics every year. It will put in place a national testing programme for accreditation of students at different levels. Increased fellowships of PhD students, introduction of industrial training for students pursuing advanced diploma course in bioinformatics and setting up of virtual classrooms in identified institutions are in the pipeline. DBT would also ensure industry participation in developing course content and materials.
DBT has already established an extensive bioinformatics network covering more than 60 centres spread all over the country. The network has generated human resources through education and training programmes at different levels. Some of them have the potential of emerging as advanced R&D facilities. To promote R&D and to utilize the business opportunities would require creation of broadband connectivity, high performance computing facilities, virtual reality centres, availability of high quality trained manpower, interactions with bioinformatics centres in different countries and industry academia interactions for joint database and software creation.
Bioinformatics in India is expected to be capable of promoting research in biology; prospecting; conservation and management of bio-resources; evaluation of products, processes and raw materials, managing complex data required to plan and monitor major national programs; and meeting the growing need of contract services and business outsourcing in pharma and biotechnology sectors.