The Centre for Public Policy (CPP), Indian Institute of Management Bengaluru (IIMB) and the Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS) Centre, University of Sussex, UK, are coming together with the Association of Biotechnology-Led Enterprises (ABLE) to hold a half-day seminar on “Biotech in Bengaluru: Past Experiences Future Trajectories.” This event is sponsored by the UK-India Education Research Initiative through a grant to the STEPS Centre and CPP.

The seminar will be held on Thursday, February 16 th, between 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Central Pergola, Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru.

The event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the changing biotech sector in Bengaluru over the past decade and to analyse important policy changes. This seminar will provide an excellent forum for interaction with leaders of the biotech industry, according to Professor Rajeev Gowda, chairperson, Centre for Public Policy, IIMB.

The  speakers include Dr Vijay Chandru, CEO, Strand Life Sciences and president, ABLE, Dr Ian Scoones, co-director, STEPS Centre, Leo Saldanha, co-ordinator, Environmental Support Group, Dr K K Narayanan, MD, Metahelix, Dr Jagadish Mittur, Dr Dhananjay Patankar, Syngene, Dr B V Ravi Kumar, XCyton, Dr Satya Dash, COO-ABLE, and Prof. Chirantan Chatterjee, IIMB.

The schedule covers the opening session by Sridhar Pabbisetty, COO, Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore, followed by Dr Ian Scoones, STEPS co-director and IDS Professorial Fellow who will address on the topic  ‘Reflecting on Biotech and Bangalore’.

Dr Vijay Chandru, president ABLE and CEO, Strand Life Sciences will address on the Evolution of Indian Biotech Industry. There will also be a panel discussion on the  Biotechnology Regulatory Bill with Dr Satya Dash, COO, ABLE as the moderator. The panelist are Leo Saldanha, coordinator, Environment Support Group Dr Jagadish Mittur, Biotechnology Consultant  Dr K K Narayanan, vice president, Metahelix, Dr Dhananjay Patankar, vice president, Syngene International and Dr B V Ravi Kumar, chairman and managing director Xcyton.

The event will conclude with Dr Chirantan Chatterjee, Professor, IIM Bengaluru who will speak on Possible Future for India’s Biotech Industry.