BioAsia 2014 is all set to give a big boost to the pharma and biotechnology industry in India. As an international platform this event will bring the entire international life sciences community at one place to discuss and strategise the future growth path. Shedding light on various aspects of the event, Shakthi M Nagappan, CEO BioAsia, in an online interview with Amguth Raju, says that in the ever- changing landscape of the life sciences industry, only continuous innovation can help the industry evolve and chart out a sustainable growth path in the future.
What is the significance of BioAsia 2014 and how is this year’s event different from the last year?
BioAsia has emerged as the industry forum in the region for life sciences industry and hence the 11th edition of the event, BioAsia 2014, is dedicated to the most opportune theme – “Innovate. Evolve”. BioAsia’s focus on ‘Innovation in life sciences R&D’ will address the increasing disease burden, and the growing need for more efficacious and affordable healthcare solutions. Panel discussions hosting global industry leaders will deliberate on the path- breaking solutions for the sector, from innovative products to models that reduce R&D cost while increasing efficiencies, and innovative financing models, that promote new business ideas. The goal is to highlight innovation as the driver of the life sciences economy in the coming years.
Could you tell us about how BioAsia has evolved over the years and how big is the event going to be this year?
For more than a decade, BioAsia has built a formidable reputation for convening a high calibre network of life science executives to exchange views, analyse, showcase, explore and connect strengths that extend the visible horizons in the sector. BioAsia 2014 will see UK as the country partner besides Gangwon (South Korea) and Sante Fe (Argentina) as international state partners, KPMG as the knowledge partner, ICRISAT as AgBio partner, and Insight Bioventures as technology track partners and delegates from about 50 countries. Key speakers include Dr. Bill Hait, Global Head R&D, Janssen Pharmaceutica (J&J), USA, Prof. Dr. Harald zur Hausen, Nobel Laureate, Chairman-Board of German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) & Prof. of the Univ. of Heidelberg, Germany, Abbas Hussain, President International and Executive Board Member, GSK, UK, GV Prasad, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. India, Dr. Phil Kearney, Director of Licensing & External Research, Merck & Co, USA among several others.
How do you see the success of BioAsia in taking the Indian biotech, pharma, medical devices and healthcare industry at the global level and how does the Indian players benefit from this?
The primary aim of BioAsia, since its inception, has been to foster business collaborations and opportunities in life sciences sector in India. Based on the industrial requests, BioAsia has taken up the role of an advocacy platform in the last few editions taking up key issues and challenges, for the regulators and policy - makers to take informed decision. We would like to continue the role of a catalyst for the life sciences industry in India and bring to the fore, key issues affecting this sector to enable a business and innovation friendly ecosystem. In brief, BioAsia will help showcase the full fledged ecosystem of Indian biotech, pharma and medical devices industry to international delegations and foreign companies looking to scale up, collaborate or for mergers and acquisitions.
Could you please elaborate on how apt is the theme “Innovate Evolve” in the present industry context?
Lifescience is an innovation intense industry. Traditionally, the Asian lifesciences businesses are centred around established markets for their clearly defined products or services with little experimentation, which to a great extent can be attributed to low risk appetite investor climate. However, the landscape is changing and there is an increasing recognition that innovation is essential for sustenance and growth, even within established businesses. Hence, we are confident that the global business leaders, with demonstrated innovative capabilities coming together at BioAsia 2014 will add significant impetus to the India’s innovation path.
Who would be the major participants and what are the major topics and issues that would be deliberated at this global bio business forum?
The event has attracted participants including leading corporate honchos, thought leaders, scientists, regulators and policy-makers from across the world. BioAsia 2014, hosted by Government of Andhra Pradesh with the support of Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) will feature dedicated conferences on bio-energy, drug discovery, bio-IT, bio-therapeutics, regenerative medicine and medical electronics and devices to discuss the contemporary developments in science & technology. In order to successfully implement these plans, we have partnered with expert organizations like TERI, Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, AIMED, AHPI, among others.
How many global and domestic companies are taking part in this event and what would be the headcount of total participants this year?
We are anticipating a footfall of around 1,500 participants and over 750 organizations (industry and academia) over the three-days. With an attractive line up of speakers and a number of visiting international delegations, the response so far has been overwhelming. The event will see the largest ever delegation from Argentina comprising around 40 members. We are confident that 2014 event will be definitely surpassing the benchmark set by BioAsia in the past.
Could you give us a brief on AgBioAsia 2014 and what it would be focusing on?
AgBioAsia will be held in conjunction with the annual business forum, BioAsia 2014. With the theme of “Food and Nutraceuticals”, the key focus of this edition will be on next big trends and health & nutrition challenges. Sessions will be organized on topics including health & nutrition through modern biotechnology, challenges in development and commercialization of functional foods and dietary supplements, policy and regulations for food and nutraceutical technologies and entrepreneurship and innovation in food and nutraceutical business. Several key scientists, regulatory heads of industries, entrepreneurs, registered dieticians, nutritionists, academicians and innovators would be attending the event.
The event is organized with the support of International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (Icrisat) and Ficci.
Will there be any signing of MoUs, announcement of major partnerships or investment in R&D by any global player at the event?
BioAsia provides the platform for networking, B2B meetings, face-to-face with government functionaries such as regulators, policy makers etc.
Investments of thousands of crores of rupees have been announced at our event over the years. Over 100 MoUs have also been executed at BioAsia, including government to government level agreements. A number of initiatives including the “Indo-Spanish Joint Call for R&D” were announced at BioAsia. Well over 3500 business to business meetings have been organized at BioAsia. The organizers of BioAsia believe in creating the right environment and bringing together of the stakeholders. However, we cannot comment on specific details of such business transactions as our role is limited to bringing stake-holders together and ends at that.
Being at the helm of affairs at BioAsia and FABA, how do you look at the overall growth of Indian pharma and biotechnology sectors and what are the major concerns for the industry?
India pharma and biotech sector has evolved steadily and significantly over the past two decades – thanks to the progressive biotech policy and initiatives & incentive schemes of Government of India. The sector has been growing at an average rate of 20 per cent in the past decade and is estimated to grow at 30 per cent in the next decade. The steep rise in the growth estimates can be attributed to the tremendous potential offered by the sector in addressing major global challenges in healthcare, agriculture and energy. For India to move towards the next level of maturity, innovation in research and processes hold the key. With the increasing disease burden, growing need for more efficient and affordable healthcare solutions, innovation holds the key and will drive the global life sciences economy in the coming years.
Apart from FABA who are the other major organizers of BioAsia 2014? How do you view the support of government of Andhra Pradesh in making this global event a success?
The primary onus of organizing the event has been with FABA and the Industries & Commerce Department of Government of Andhra Pradesh. Since three years, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India has also played an active role in increasing the scale of the event.
Life science has always been a growth sector for the Government of Andhra Pradesh. They established the first systematically developed biotech cluster in the country - Genome Valley at Hyderabad spread across 600 sq.km. Apart from partnering with FABA to showcase the Genome Valley to the visiting foreign delegates during BioAsia, the government has taken a proactive role in reciprocating industry views, providing the right environment for deals concluded during the event and helping in approaching the union government wherever required.
Finally what would be the major outcome of BioAsia 2014? Is the forum going to bring out any major resolutions on the key issues impacting the industry in India?
Over the three days of the event, experts will deliberate on various challenges and opportunities for the sector, which will be compiled in the form of recommendations to be presented to the policy making agencies and bodies for their consideration. The ultimate objective of the event will be to instil the innovative spirit among the stake-holders and foster creation of an ecosystem in the country that encourages life sciences innovation. As a step in this direction, we are making best efforts to bridge the gap between science & business, foster partnership approach for enhancing R&D efficiencies, promote entrepreneurship through the series of activities lined up during the event including business and technology conferences, BioAsia Connect (business partnering), exhibition, conclaves, award ceremonies etc.