Singapore based Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to establish research and training collaborations in bioinformatics.

This MoU includes potential collaborative projects such as the participation of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the EMBnet node at the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFC) in various APBioNet projects including the APBioNet-APAN BioMirrors database project, the APBioGrid, the APBioNet-Cray-Lion-KOOPrime testbed, and the APBioNet-S* Alliance collaboration on the extension of mirror S* sites of online education material on bioinformatics.

According to an official press release, the MoU was signed by Dr Shoba Ranganathan Vice President APBioNet and B.P.Acharya, the Andhra Pradesh Secretary for Industries and Commerce at Singapore on December 27, 2002.

"Since the founding of APBioNet in 1998, we have been working hard to reach out to every level of the research and education community. This MoU represents a new milestone for APBioNet. We are now moving to the level of state government and to policies which affect organisations in entire states," informs the Founding Secretariat of APBioNet, Dr Tan Tin Wee. "We are therefore committed to make this tie-up with Andhra Pradesh a success," he added

The biotechnology policy of the government of Andhra Pradesh gives much thrust to bioinformatics.