The much delayed Karnataka biotechnology Park, 'Bangalore Helix', is likely to be operational by the end of 2006.

The 100-acres Biotech Park is coming up near the Electronic City and the project has been awarded to National Building Construction Company, stated MK Shankaralinge Gowda, IAS, Secretary Dept. of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka.

The decision to speed up work of the project, already delayed by about four years, has been taken considering the increasing number of companies setting base in the city, including the Indian Railways Biofuel Farm coming up on 90,000 hectares of land.

Since 2001, the state has managed to attract the highest venture capital funds to the tune of US$100 million. Outsourcing of R&D has also witnessed immense potential as 20 of the 70 commercial labs in the country are in Karnataka. "We look forward to make Bangalore and India Knowledge Process Outsourcing hub, stated the IT, BT and ST secretary. The state will also support Stem Cell Banks and other new areas of Bio Technology, he added.

According to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson Vision Group on Biotechnology and chairman and managing director, Biocon Limited, "Bangalore is evolving as an interesting ecosystem for Biotechnology, other states are also taking the initiative to follow the Bangalore model of success. To create a Bio Cluster one needs a mind set of entrepreneurship and Bangalore has paved the way in this regard. To accelerate entrepreneurship companies such as Biozene have set up training programs for bio-processing. The institute of clinical research has been set-up and which would help enhance clinical development in the country."

The Vision Group chief stated that in the wake of all the positive developments in the biotechnology sector, there is need to expand infrastructure, not just roads and airports but also patent infrastructure and service infrastructure. "International patent law firms are looking at India to set-up their consulting firms. With ample interest generated towards India for affordable drug development, infrastructure for clinical trials, Clinical researchers, and centres need to be developed," she added.