EPPIC India, the organisation of enterprising pharmaceutical, biotechnology and related industry professionals from the subcontinent of India, is likely to set up its Indian chapter based in Bangalore next month. This is the first time in India, an organisation in the area of biotechnology and pharmaceutical entrepreneurs, similar to TiE [The Indus Entrepreneurs] existing in the information technology sector.

However, EPPIC unlike TiE has a three-fold focus such as networking with industry members, professional growth and entrepreneurial development. EPPIC India will be set-up in affiliation with EPPIC Global since there is a memorandum of understanding being signed between EPPIC Global, USA and EPPIC India. On June 21, 2001, the memorandum was signed by Vivek Kulkarni, member, Vision Group in Karnataka, secretary, Department of Information Technology, government of Karnataka and Dr. Bala Manian, chairman, EPPIC Global USA.

Currently, members of EPPIC Global includes heads of biotech-pharma companies such as Novartis, Roche, Genetech, Chiron, Neurex, Incyte, Oread, Astra Zeneca, Schering Plough, Insilico Sciences, GeneEd, Entigen, Affymax and e4e Inc.

EPPIC Global was formed in March 1998 and registered as a non-profit organization in September 1998. It had hosted Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, on September 21, 1998 and proposed to act as the liaison organization in the U.S. for Andhra Pradesh's Biotech Park and Knowledge Park Project.

The launch of EPPIC India in Bangalore will be followed by a networking event where biotech and pharma companies will meet and interact about the opportunities in the field. The members of EPPIC India will include industry leaders, entrepreneurs and executives of biotech, pharma and bioinformatics companies and other related areas to encourage, support, and nurture business development talents.

The objective of EPPIC is to provide an environment that promotes networking and entrepreneurial mentoring for professionals from the Indian subcontinent (ISC) in the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Related Industries (PBRI), and to create opportunities of mutual benefit and be a resource for PBRI, educational institutions and students in the ISC.

EPPIC will function in India to provide a forum for establishing ties and act as a liaison to biotech and pharma companies. There will be both members and charter members from the biotechnology sector in Karnataka.