Addressing Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) conference on "Bio business opportunities in India", Dr.S.R.Rao, Adviser to Minister of Science & Technology & Ocean Development, Government of India said that based on the discussions with the industries, academicians, consumers, and agriculturists the government would soon announce the National Biotech Policy. The policy would also look at avenues for public-private partnerships.
Dr. Rao said that the government is all geared up for public-private partnerships to solve the issue in the area of research and discovery. He concluded by saying that India has made a road map in the field of biotechnology and the government is open to views and suggestion in new partnerships and alliances, which would make India a leader in biotechnology industry and become globally competitive.
"There's a need for networking, public-private partnership and alliances with achievable goals from time to time in the area of research and discovery", emphasized Dr.S.R.Rao, at the conference to celebrate Maharashtra Biotechnology Day.
Talking on the government's initiative Mr.Vishwas Dhumal, Principal Secretary-Industries Government of Maharashtra, said that Government of Maharashtra is committed to rapid growth of the biotech sector in Maharashtra through public-private partnerships.
He highlighted three key areas for the same. Firstly, private sector, public hospitals and research institutes are being encouraged to work in the area of clinical trials. "The Government of Maharashtra has constituted an ethics committee to formulize the same", added Mr.Dhumal. Secondly, Government of Maharashtra jointly with the Chatterjee Group has set up the Biotechnology Park for start ups in Pune and thirdly, the government is actively promoting agri-based biotechnology park in Jalna.
Speaking on the regional issues in biotechnology, Dr. Swati Piramal, Event Chairperson & Director, Nicholas Piramal India Ltd, said the opportunities in clinical research, research and development, custom manufacturing and IPR patterns are higher in India than any other country. The GDP of India and China are way ahead of USA in terms of bio - technology. The costs of clinical trials in India are 40-60 per cent lower compared to the developed world. The Indian biotech industry would be opened to challenging days from now when the patent regime comes to effect. She added that the key drivers for certain biotech companies opting for outsourcing are because of the following reasons - pharma companies focus on strategic functions like research and development, pressure to increase development capacity, difficulty in patient recruitment. Outsourcing can help India leverage its patients and investigate at a low cost.