Although many states have their own biotech policies, it is essential to have a comprehensive national biotech policy at the central level if India has to take a global leadership position in the biotech arena, according to Dr Krishna M Ella, chairman, FICCI Biotech Committee and chairman of Bharat Biotech International.
India needs to show progress in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship. Those who are PhDs should be re-oriented to take up innovation. R&D programmes can be developed and incubated in universities and the Department of Biotechnology can carry this forward to other stages, he said.
Clinicians are isolated from the biotech activities, and it is essential that clinical research is re-oriented as the sector has potential opportunities in the coming years. ICMR and DBT are planning to set up a GCP training centre.
He added that it was a good sign for the country's biotech industry that many initiatives were being taken up through public-private partnership.
India is producing 1.7 lakh MSc graduates in biotechnology from 130 colleges across the country. Out of these, 45 colleges are from Tamil Nadu alone. Science graduates should be trained in law, IPR as much patent litigation are to arise in the coming years.
The UGC, AICTE and State Universities are giving permissions to colleges to run biotech courses and there should be some regulation this aspect too. On the lines of Medical Council of India, there could be a Biotechnology council of India, which will ensure the quality of biotech curriculum and education in these colleges. DBT is now keen on brining some regulation towards granting permissions to offer courses on biotechnology.
It is shocking to know that a majority of BT students have never visited a lab. It has also been recognized that the faculties teaching in the colleges should have undergone training along with industry exposure. The human resource development has a key role to play in the growth of the sector.
Negative opinion on the use and impact of biotechnology needs to be addressed through effective public communication, he opined.
He recommended, one man or two men run biotech companies focused on innovation should get priority under the proposed Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI).