To cater to the processing biotech industry needs, a bio research firm, Bio Bridge Technologies Pvt Ltd, will be launched soon in Pune. It will be a collaborative venture with the Swedish biotech player Bio Trans.
Bio Bridge Technologies would be set up at Pune with an investment of about US$1 million. The company is being floated with an objective of functioning as a bridge between biotechnology research and industrial needs and is expected to commence operations in early 2008.
The main activities of BioBridge would be contract research and development and in-house development of proprietary technologies. Speaking to Pharmabiz, Vijay Moza, director, Bio Bridge Technologies Pvt. Ltd., said, "The company would initially give priority to activities like process development related to food processing, bioenergy production and environmental remediation. However, it is just a matter of time the company ventured into biopharma and diagnosis related projects." He also revealed that Bio Bridge's initial focus would be domestic market.
"To start with, the focus will be on the Indian market but eventually the company will have international clients as well. BioBridge will maintain close contacts with Indian academia at all times, and will help to train people with practical skills needed for industry," said, Vijay Moza.
The facilities at Bio Bridge would be personnel competent in research and development as well as in different aspects of business activities. Apart, from early next year, the company is expected to initiate building of a pilot plant for some of its projects. As per the present plans, Bio Bridge would initiate consultancy projects in order to transferring knowledge to local industry. In the long run, Bio Bridge is said to shift its focus to prospective in-house research development and commercialization of new processes and proprietary knowledge.
Replying to a question on how BioBridge plans to make an impact in the country's biotechnology industry, Vijay Moza, said, "Indian biotechnology industry is relatively small and is focused on pharma. There are, however, a lot of biotechnology solutions for traditional industries. That is where BioBridge will make an impact. "The involvement of biotechnologists in food, chemical, energy and other industries is expected to expand. This is also an area where BioBridge will act," he added.
Asked about the role of BioTrans at Bio Bridge, Vijay Moza replied, "BioTrans holds a lot of experience and intellectual property rights that can be used within the collaboration between BioTrans and Bio Bridge. The activities will be a joint venture between the two companies. Furthermore, BioTrans will assist in training personnel that will be recruited by BioBridge."
On its part, a senior official from BioTrans said, "Through different contacts, the founders of BioTrans have over the last 20 years interacted with Indian biotechnologists. It is through the contact with the founders of BioBridge that plans of initiating the activities in India have materialized."
BioTrans is a biotechnology company specializing in enzyme and microbial technology, downstream processing and environmental biotechnology. Both in-house research and consultancy projects are carried out at BioTrans.