The BioAsia-2008, the global bio business forum facilitating innovative partnerships to explore the latest developments in biotechnology and bioscience arena, will get underway at Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, from February 7.

The highlight of the BioAsia this year is the Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC) which is the latest feather to the crown of a collaborative initiative between Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, government of Andhra Pradesh and the Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) to promote the advanced biotech business and entrepreneurship in India.

Vice-President of India M Hamid Ansari will dedicate it to the nation on Thursday while inaugurating the BioAsia conference here.

The BioAsia, an annual event promoted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, provides an opportunity for life sciences companies from around the world to showcase the best of products, services, technologies and facilitates interactions and business transactions among life science companies. The 3-day event will have an International conference, a tradeshow, a business forum, a poster program, CEO conclave and a bio banquet.

The BTIC is located at the Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park in the Genome Valley here. It harbours a great resource with all biotechnology tit bits and amenities on the spot which can be accessible to different biotech companies, academic research institutions, major universities, public and private hospitals for human development in the field of biotechnology.

The world-class laboratory with healthy environment will offer biotech start up companies to play a crucial role in biotechnology development, human resource development, awareness in Hyderabad and neighbouring areas and encourage investments.

This facility particularly focus on biomedical related businesses including biopharmaceuticals, herbal medicine, regenerative medicine, alternate medicine, health and dietary supplements, biocides, biomaterials, molecular and conventional diagnostics, the genome oriented customized medicine and biocosmetics production.

Another important facilities to be dedicated to the nation are the Animal Resources Facility, an ICMR project, that is coming up in Hyderabad at a cost of Rs 500 crore (first phase at a cost of Rs 250 crore) and the Stem Cell Sciences which is established by the Liver Research and Diagnostics with the support of the Andhra Pradesh government with an investment of Rs 150 crore.

In the conference this year, the Andhra Pradesh government will honour Nobel laureate Sir Martin J Evan with 'Genome Valley Excellence Award.' He will deliver a lecture on 'Embryonic Stem Cells' at the inaugural session which will be presided over by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.