The Indian biotech industry has joined together under a new forum, the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), to generate a symbiotic interface between the industry, the government, academic and research bodies and domestic and international investors. The ABLE would be for biotech industry, what National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) is for Information Technology industry today.

ABLE, that came into being few weeks ago, is aiming at accelerating the pace of biotechnology in India by enabling strategic alliances between researchers, the government and the global biotech industry. Showcasing breakthrough technologies and cutting-edge biotech initiatives that will take the Indian biotech sector to new heights is another objective of the association.

Partnering and acting as a consulting body to the government in its biotech endeavours as well as lobbying for conducive policy making, promoting biotechnology in both industry and academia, and forging a stronger link between research and the commercialization of emerging technologies, inducting bodies that represent Indian industry like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as well as various other national and international organizations as affiliate members, disseminating state-of-the art information regarding the industry to lawmakers, investors, academicians and media are all avowed objectives of the association.

The need for ABLE was felt in the context of the evolving paradigms in Indian regulatory and legal frameworks and increasing issues of safety and ethics relevant to biotechnology. Kiran Mazumudar Shaw, chairperson, CII National Committee on Biotechnology & CMD, Biocon India, is the leading spirit behind the formation of the association. The association would function from New Delhi and plans to set up offices in major cities as well as international locations.