The International Biotech Park (IBP) coming up at Hinjewadi near Pune, the first public-private sector biotech park initiative in Maharashtra, will soon start full fledged operations as about 15 companies including many overseas biotech firms are in the process of setting up units in the park.
Companies that have taken space in the Bio Resource Centre at the park include Chembiotek, a CRO promoted by the Chatterjee group of companies and Advinus Discovery Labs, a drug discovery and development company promoted by a few former Ranbaxy scientists. Advantium Pharma, a US based biotech start up is negotiating with the IBP to start a biotech facility at the park. The companies that have taken land at the park include Centaur Pharma, Hikal Pharma, Hikal Technologies, Omni-Actives and Kard Scientific.
Shreya Life Sciences and Venkateswara Hatcheries already exist in the park. As per the current estimation, these companies would invest about Rs 300 crore and have to start operations in the park within an year as per the agreement, said Prasanta Biswal, Chief Executive Officer, IBP.
About 30 acres of the 35 acre developed area in the first phase, scheduled for completion only by 2007-08, has already been leased to the companies. Currently IBP is negotiating with about nine overseas biotech players, especially from US and Europe. The project is a joint venture between the Chatterjee Group Urban Infrastructure Holdings (TCGUIH) and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). MIDC holds 12 percent of the equity capital out of a total investment of Rs 215 crore in the project and TCGUIH holding the remaining 88 percent. The 103-acre park at Hinjewadi is near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and is close to the Pune University. The Bio Resource Centre is a core-shared facility spread over 30,000 sq. ft of bioscience labs that includes 5 incubation labs and instrumentation centres with specialised wet labs. The presence of the core-shared facility would help in reducing the capital costs for the tenants in the park as they would be able to use state-of-the-art equipment in the facility such as bio-analytical lab, pre-clinical and clinical facilities, pilot plants etc. without having to invest on their own.
The authorities are also discussing with a few US-based institutions and universities to set up a life sciences institute to develop high quality technical manpower needed for pharma and biotech companies. The Park has a 'Genesis Square,' a multi-tenant complex comprising laboratory space equipped with modern amenities and utilities. A built-to-suit complex-Chrysalis Enclave has laboratories designed as per clients need with greater technical flexibility. India’s rich bio-diversity and the new product patent regime has become an attraction for overseas biotech companies to look at India. Skilled manpower, proximity to leading research institutes, adequate infrastructure and nearness to Mumbai are factors that contribute to attract biotech companies to Pune, said Prasanta Biswal.