Bio-partnering, Intellectual Property and human resource development are the focus area of ninth edition of Bangalore Bio 2009. The event organized by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Co. will be held at Hotel Lalit Ashok, Bangalore from June 18 to June 20, 2009. The State's flagship biotech event's theme is 'Biotechnology beyond boundaries - the promise of India'.

In spite of the global economic downturn and perceived challenges, Bangalore Bio event has been perceived as a barometer for growth prospects. In fact the slowdown has forced biotech companies and countries to look new ways of developing new biotech products. Affordable Innovation is the way forward and in this context it is advantage India, stated Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson Vision Group on Biotechnology at the press conclave during the curtain raiser of the mega biotech event.

"We have not seen any reduction in participation. We are expecting 100 exhibitors, 700 delegates and 10 countries including UK, Canada, Germany, France, Australia, South Africa, US, Italy, Spain, Singapore and Japan," she added.

The concept of Bio partnering which is an online partnership tool in collaboration with Technology Vision Group LLC, the leading producer of international bio partnering meet is a first of its kind in the country. The concept which is already used in 40 countries has been a major success. This year's event will help companies to network with major global companies. Through an interactive software, 'BioPartnering.com' will help the delegates to find and contact potential partners weeks before the event.

In the area of intellectual property, through 'Bio IP Zone' opportunities can be created for leading international IP firms to come face-to-face with biotech fraternity. This will facilitate dialogue of IP firms with start-ups as well as established players in the sector to address the issues related to licensing, valuation, patents, trade marks and copyright. It will also help the companies to unlock the commercial value of their IPs.

Human resources will be a key discussion. This is because the quality of graduates passing out of colleges are required to be given a direction to amass the skills needed by the industry.

According to Ashok Kumar C Manoli, Karnataka principal secretary for information technology, biotechnology and Science & Technology the main aim of this event is to market the Karnataka overseas and get global companies to collaborate with Indian companies. This in turn will enable Indian companies to have an international platform for their business and showcase their products to a wide range of potential customers. After becoming an IT bellwether, India is now shifting its focus to the most promising industry of the future, Biotechnology.

Leading companies at the event will include Biocon, Novozymes, Merck, Quintiles, BioRad, Mayar Biotech, Mawdsley Brooks & Co, Imperial Life Sciences, WALDNER Laboratory Systems Strand Genomics, Eppendorf India Limited, Waters India, to name a few. The event will also witness huge participation from Indian states namely Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and countries namely Germany, State of Victoria, Australia.

Nobel Laureate Dr Richard J Roberts will deliver the inaugural keynote address in the opening plenary of the conference at the Bangalore Bio 2009. Dr Roberts was awarded the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of introns in eukaryotic DNA and the mechanism of gene-splicing. His amazing discovery of interrupted genes transformed the model for understanding how proteins are synthesized from genes.

Bangalore Bio 2009 has identified special focus areas where in Case Studies on successful partnerships between international and Indian companies will be discussed.