The AP Government, in its efforts to derive the advantages of biotechnology, is planning to focus on strengthening the university infrastructure and research capabilities in the next few years. Though virtually every university in the state offers a Bachelor's course in biotechnology and boasts of research capabilities, the reality is that they are short of research facilities and trained manpower to teach and undertake research.

Realising some of the shortcomings, the government has initiated discussions with universities such as the University of Hyderabad, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University and other agriculture universities with the intent to develop centres of excellence and provide support in the form of equipment.

According to D N Mohan, Director (Biotech), Industries Department, the government had created a Rs 5-crore Biotech Fund for the financial year 2003-04. A part of this fund could be utilised to set up about six such centres. Three broad areas of medical, agriculture & veterinary and marine resources had been identified where biotechnology had big applications potential and the state had opportunities, he said.

The government has already identified the N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGARU), Hyderabad, for Agriculture and Veterinary sciences, the Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, for Marine resources and the Sri Venketeswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati, for Medical biotechnology.

The objective of these centres is to undertake result-oriented research projects. For example, the ANGARU could work on applications of biotechnology on pulses, mango, rice etc.

The state government is also working on the creation of a full-fledged Department of Biotechnology in the near future to give full thrust to the various initiatives taken up so far. To start with, a Biotech Cell is on the anvil.