After the infotech boom, India should now look forward to the biotechnology boom and the country needs to focus on moving from innovation to invention considering the very impressive resource of scientists it has, said Dr Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, Biocon India Ltd., Bangalore.

Dr Mazumder was addressing a parallel symposium of the 91st Indian Science Congress organized by National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, Punjab, on January 5th, 2004. The theme of the symposium was entitled “Science and Economic Development.”

Stressing the need for building global cooperation on a platform of scientific innovation, she averred, ``Biotechnology in India has the requisite gene for global success. It now has to prepare a DNA, which could hybridize with the global standard.’’

Dr Susan Kling Finston, Esq. associate vice -president, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of Amercia, USA; Prof. Polly Roy from the London school of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK; Dr Krishna Dronamraju, president, Foundation for Genetic Research, USA; Dr S Aryan, Economic advisor to the Prime Minister and secretary to the Govt. of India; Dr Alta All, science counselor, Embassy of USA also spoke on the occasion.

Dr AM Chakrabarty from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA, presided over the symposium with Dr CS Dey, professor, Department of Biotechnology, NIPER, as the section secretary. Dr CL Kaul, director, NIPER, welcomed the delegates.