Maharashtra, which already has two biotech parks - pharma-biotech park at Pune and agri-biotech park at Jalna - is planning to set up two more biotech parks in the state. Already, one is being developed at Khalapur, while another biotech park is proposed at Alibag.

Maharashtra Biotechnology Policy 2001 came into existence with aim to lead the biotechnology industry in the state to a growth path from where it can become globally competitive. This intended to provide an appropriate policy framework which would smoothen its path and provide adequate infrastructure, especially in the form of biotechnology parks.

This Indian state's strengths include superior human resource, excellence of its private and public institutions, superb infrastructure and a conducive business environment as well as the inherent strength of its industry. Equally important is the progressive and proactive government policies, which are prepared to go that extra mile to make things happen. This confidence is not merely based on its potential, but on its proven performance.

"Ever since the beginning, Maharashtra had an advantage for industrial growth, as it houses India's financial capital. The superior advantage in state is the excellent infrastructure," said Shekhar Naik, joint director of industries, Government of Maharashtra.

The biotech foundations in Maharashtra go back a long way. The Haffkine Institute, established in 1899, is the oldest biotech institution in the state. In 1954, Pune created a landmark in biotechnology by becoming the first city in India to have a company - Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd - producing Penicillin.

The state government has various strategic initiatives to attain its goal. It has made the industrial power tariff applicable to all biotechnology firms engaged in the production of high-end products. All biotechnological companies will be exempted from statutory power cuts. Also, biotechnology units are exempted from paying electricity duty. Public bodies or their joint ventures have been permitted to establish 'independent power producers' for the dedicated provision of power to biotechnology parks promoted by them.

Also, Maharashtra provides special incentives to promote setting up of biotechnology parks, research and development centres and pilot plant facilities for undertaking contract research by putting equity stakes in such projects. The government equity may be in kind, such as in the form of land allotted for the projects.

Biotechnology units throughout the state will be eligible for all the benefits available to industrial units located in 'D' areas of the state under the New Package Scheme of Incentives 2001, except in the D+ and 'no industry district' areas, where such units are eligible for benefits in the D+ and 'no industry district' areas. These include capital subsidy for small-scale biotechnology units and refund of octroi and similar levies.

New biotechnology units and expansions of existing units are exempted from payment of stamp duty and registration fees in C, D, D+ and no industry zones in terms of Package Scheme of Incentives, 2001 of the State.

International biotech park, Hinjawadi: This is a joint venture between Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and The TCG real estate. TCG has an 88 per cent stake in this park, while MIDC holds the remaining 12 per cent. It is spread over 136 acres of land and located on the Mumbai-Pune highway which is 5 kms from Pune.

At present, Emcure has started operations for recombinant human TNK-t-PA and human GM-CSF in the park, while Shreya Life Science Pvt. Ltd and Venkateshwara Hatcheries Ltd are under construction.

Land in this park has been allotted to Centaur Pharma, Phyto Actives Pvt Ltd, Hikal Technologies, Hikal Pharma, Chembiotek Research, Novartis, Kard Scientific Avinus and Chembiotek for biotech operations. Advantium has also been allotted land for setting up research service organisation.

The park will have an incubation centre, multi tenant campus, built to suit facilities and centres for bioinformatics, education and training and clinical research. The incubation centre will get operational in six month's time.

"The infrastructure for the incubation centre is ready. It will be operational in six months. This centre is created in 15000 sq ft area and can handle 15 firms," said, Rajesh Saboo, marketing division, International Biotech Park.

Investment for this park has been planned to occur in three phases and at present TCG has completed one phase in terms of infrastructure development and access to basic amenities. Manufacturing facilities are not allowed in the park.

Agri biotechnology park, Jalna: The agri biotechnology park is another initiative of MIDC to boost up the bio-agriculture industry in Maharashtra. Located at Jalna, the total land earmarked for this project was around 153 acres. However, now it has shrunk to 124 acres. Work for this park commenced in 2003-2004.

The park will be declared as an industrial township and the major thrust areas of the park will be gene discovery, bioremediation, fermentation technology, post harvest technology, bioinformatics and diagnostics.

Throwing light on the future of biotech sector in Maharashtra, Shekhar Naik said, "The sector seems to grow in rural area of the state since we face space problem in the urban areas. Earlier, it was difficult to convince the farmers about the advantages of new technologies and setting up of such industries but now the time has changed. Now they are gradually understanding the importance of technology for growth of any sector."