The Government of Maharashtra hinted out its dreams to make Maharashtra the biotech capital of the country during the official inauguration of the International Biotech Park at Hinjewadi, Pune by the state Industries Minister Patangrao Kadam on Friday. The inauguration took place at a function organized by the promoters of the park, which coincided with CII organized conference on “New Age Biotechnology in Maharashtra.”

The knowledge city of Pune when connected with the financial and trade nerve centre of Mumbai formed a corridor that could be developed into a world-class knowledge hub, said experts at the event. “Taking advantage of the strategic significance of the hub, we aim to develop the Mumbai-Pune corridor as the biotech hub of South East Asia,” said Vishwas Dhumal, Principal Secretary — Industries, Government of Maharashtra.

The government has contemplated certain initiatives to realize this dream. First of all Pune University will be made a ‘Centre of Excellence,’ which will be linked with the Hinjewadi park. “New centres on biotechnology research will be opened in the university. Fresh graduate and postgraduate courses on biotechnology and bioinformatics will be introduced in the university. The companies operating in the biotech park will be allowed to partner with the university for research. We are working closely with IBM Lifesciences for incorporating latest hardware devices enabling bioinformatics research,” said Dhumal. Along with academic institutions, Maharashtra government is also planning to tie up with public and Trust hospitals for enabling the companies in the park carry clinical trials, said Dhumal.

“Government of Maharashtra is committed to make Mumbai-Pune a model biotech park, from where the future biotech parks would take inspiration,” said Dr. Patangrao Kadam.

International Biotech Park recently signed an MoU with IBM Global Services, where the latter will act as global consultants in making a park of international standard. The Hinjewadi Biotech Park is a joint venture between The Chatterjee Group and MIDC, where the former holds 88 per cent stake and the latter 12 per cent. Companies like Emcure, Shreya Lifesciences, and Agharkar Institute are already the occupants of the park.