The Bangalore-based Bhat Biotech, one of the leading diagnostics and recombinant DNA technology companies in Karnataka, has now seized an opportunity to enter the biotech education sector. With this move, the company would introduce teaching kits used in laboratory practicals for degree and post-graduate classes. The four-sets of kits will be marketed under segments like molecular biology, immunology, electophoresis equipment and recombinant antigens. The kits will be available for the educational institutions in the first week of January 2004.

The company's strategic decision to take on teaching kits is to grab the yet untapped opportunities in the biotech education sector. According to Dr Shama Bhat, managing director, Bhat Biotech, the company is looking at diverse options as part of its objective of sustained growth in the right opportunities.

The kits will facilitate accurate analysis during the lab practical sessions that are crucial component in the syllabus for biotechnology colleges. "The biotech education is evolving in India and there are around 20 colleges in Karnataka offering the specialisation. The biotech industry is dependent on the talented work force that needs to be backed by quality educational skills, informed Dr Bhat.

Initially, the kits will only be marketed in Karnataka and efforts are on to tap the national market in a phased manner. "We will be able to stand apart in the education market because of pricing and after sales service," he added.

Meanwhile, the company has embarked on an expansion plan with an investment of Rs.60 lakh to upgrade its facility to a totally WHO-GMP compliant unit located in the Veerasandra industrial area in the outskirts of Bangalore. It is gearing up to increase the production targets both for the domestic and international market. Currently, the exports contribute 25 per cent of the company's total turnover, which is expected to be Rs.3 crore in the financial year ending March 2004.