Bangalore Bio 2007, one of the Asia's biggest biotech events, is expected to boost the biotech industry in the state by providing a suitable platform to develop market and business strategies. The event will also showcase innovations in products and services, transform concepts into markets, explore investment and partnering opportunities and witness formation of new alliances.
In an interaction with Chronicle Pharmabiz, MN Vidyashankar IAS, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, noted that Bangalore Bio events are extremely important, as over the past six years, the event has created a name and changed the facet of the biotech sector in the state.
"This is year, we have ensured that Bangalore Bio will not be reduced to a typical government function and taken measures to highlight the bourgeoning biotech sector in the state. If we make the industry feel that they are wanted by taking their inputs it will make the event all the more different. Therefore, we allowed the industry led by the Association of Biotechnology Led Entrepreneurs (ABLE) to devise the content and structure of the event, including the conference to provide a professional touch to make it market and business driven in every sense," Vidyashankar added.
Key attractions of the Bangalore Bio 2007 are:
#. Opening of the biotech park Bangalore Helix phase I.
#. Handing over of phase II and III development works of biotech park Bangalore Helix to Alexandria Real Estate Inc, USA on a BOOT (build open operate transfer) format.
#. Inking a pact with University of Deakin, Australia to set-up an advanced training centre to hone the skills of R&D engineers, postgraduates and PhDs.
#. Explore land to help finalize US-based investors keen to build a massive research and production facility.
For the first time, the event is being held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Tumkur Road. The new location will further add to its professionalism.
Biotech revolution
Bangalore has been viewed as the biotech capital and a city of biotech clusters. Right ambience, eco-system and existing bio-clusters attract many to invest in the state's biotech industry. Currently, there are 112 biotech companies in the state. The state is known for its industry-friendly policies. Power tariff offered to the biotech unit is Rs 1 per unit, which no other state in the country does. The biotech park Bangalore Helix, which is slated for Phase II and III expansion, will be equipped with animal house, wet labs, green house and incubation centres to meet the market needs.
Bangalore is more of a biotech research hub rather than manufacturing base. But once the biotech park is fully commissioned, the state will be a preferred location for both biotech research and manufacturing activities, Vidyashankar said.
The sound foundations of biotechnology industry are pharma and agri biotech initiatives. The state has a reasonable grip in these sectors. The agri-biotech sector in Karnataka has a growth rate of 169 per cent, compared to the all India figure of 35 per cent, while the pharma biotech is pegged at Rs 3,000 crore growing at over 50 per cent annually.
Notable events
The Bangalore Bio 2007 will witness the inauguration of first phase of the biotech park Bangalore Helix. The first phase will house administrative block, centre for human genetics, Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), including its student hostel and part of the operations of Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS).
A delegation led by the Governor, the State of Victoria, Australia, will be present at the event. Nobel Prize nominees Prof. Sir David Lane and Prof. Birgitte Lane will be guests at the event.
Biotech Training
The Karnataka Government is in the process of launching the country's first school for biotechnology, Karnataka Biotech Finishing School, to train graduates for the industry jobs. In this regard, the State government has initiated talks with the People Education Society IT (PESIT) College in Bangalore, which will house the school. Talks are to be held with Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for a direction on the course content. The curriculum needs to be designed for the industry needs. The proposed biotech school is expected to bring out 5,000 to 10,000 candidates annually. It will certainly take care of the talent needs of the biotech sector. We are in all efforts to attract entrepreneurs and seed investors to Bangalore, said the IT- BT secretary.
Bridging the gap
Though the future of biotech industry in the state is promising, there are two issues, which need to be addressed. One is the human resources, which has even affected biotech college admissions, as students do not want to take up the course because of lack of job opportunities. There is a serious mismatch between what the industry wants and what is being taught. We need to bridge the gap. The second issue is regarding eco-system and hence more specific to the industry. Both backward and forward integration needs to be addressed. Fortunately we are about to overcome the issues related to eco-system with the biotech park, said Vidyashankar.
Australian varsity to invest $2 million
The University of Deakin, Australia, is ready to invest Australian $ 2 million in the biotech sector in Bangalore and plans to set-up a world class research manpower training centre, which will generate close to 500 R&D engineers for the biotech sector apart from post graduates and PhDs annually. The first round of discussions is completed and the second and third rounds of discussions are slated before the event. If everything goes well, Karnataka government will ink a pact with the University of Deakin during the Bangalore Bio 2007 to materialize the project. The Deakin University officials have visited biotech parks at Baroda and Hyderabad but preferred to set up base in Bangalore.
Talks are also on with the Wadhwa Group, USA, as they are looking to invest in a massive research and production facility on a 250- 300-acre facility. The state is now in search of land for the project in the Bangalore rural district.