The Ministry of Science and Technology has placed the National Biotechnology Development Strategy draft for public debate. The draft, which incorporates all major recommendations of Mashelkar committee for bio-pharmaceuticals has proposed the setting up of National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority as a long term measure to provide an effective clearance mechanism for all biotech products.
Releasing the Draft National Biotechnology Development Strategy at a press conference here, the Minister of Science and Technology and Ocean Development, Kapil Sibal said that the draft strategy aims to bring clarity in regulatory issues, provide an action plan for human resource development and suggest measures for promotion of innovation. It has also mentioned specific measures for promoting biotechnology industries and attracting investment. The Draft has created sectoral roadmaps in specific areas and detailed measures required for institutional strengthening including building new centres of excellence.
Sibal said that adequate support will be provided to basic, translational and clinical research. Up to 30 per cent of biotechnology R&D budget will be spent through public- private partnership. He said that the effort will be to train scientists and technology transfer professionals in handling Intellectual Property Rights issues. "Regional Technology Transfer Cells will be created to provide high calibre, specialized and comprehensive technology transfer services", he said.
The Strategy emphasizes on utilizing India's potential and strength in manufacturing, contracting research services and helping in discovery based product development. It proposes to exempt all biotechnology industries from the requirement of compulsory licensing and allowing foreign direct investment up to 100 per cent on automatic route. It also suggests continuation of all existing fiscal incentives for biotech industries up to 2010. The Strategy aims at an annual turnover of $ 5 billion and creation of 1 million jobs by 2010.
The Strategy lays great stress on human resource development. It proposes the setting up of a National Task Force to formulate model undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in life sciences and biotechnology. It proposes enhanced exposure to hands on training for the M.Sc. biotechnology students through extended attachment in industry, CSIR Laboratories and other appropriate institutions. The number of DBT post doctoral overseas fellowship to be increased to 200 per annum from the current level of 25.
Moving on to Medical Biotechnology, the Draft says that priority should be accorded to research in molecular and cellular biology, Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, transplantation biology, genomics, proteomics, system biology and RNA interference. It favours promotion of stem cell research in view of its potential for clinical use. "However, embryos should not be generated for the sole purpose of obtaining stem cells for embryonic stem cell research. Only surplus, spare or supernumerary embryos should be used after obtaining informed consent of both spouses. Research based on stem cells derived from adult bone marrow or foetal cord blood may be undertaken only after obtaining approval from the appropriately constituted Ethics Committee and informed consent from the concerned subject", the Strategy says.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Dr M K Bhan said that one of the major aim of the Strategy will be to set up Centres of Excellence in the fields of Marine Biotechnology, Animal biotechnology, Herbal Medicine, Molecular Medicine and Bio-informatics etc.
The Draft Strategy has now been open for public debate for a period of six weeks during which suggestions so obtained will be incorporated in the framing of the final strategy which will be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval.