After consolidating it presence in the developed markets of US and UK, State of Victoria in Australia is identifying opportunities of the developing economies including India in the area of Intellectual Property (IP).

India pharma-biotech research and manufacturing companies are being closely assessed for possible partnership alliances for product-technology commercialization and IP generation at a faster pace. The initiatives for the IP support comes from the Strategic Development Plan (2007-10) driven by the State of Victoria.

Victoria holds two per cent of the world's Intellectual Property in biotechnology. Its IP regime is ranked among the top six in the world. Robust regulatory system for biotechnology, national legislation governing embryonic stem cell research and a legislative framework for bio-discovery, pacts with the USFDA and a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the European Union for certifications in medicinal plants, GMP inspection and batch certification provide a promising platform for companies in India to access the opportunity in patent generation, Dr. Amanda Caples, director Biotechnology, department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, State Government of Victoria, told Pharmabiz.

High quality of science, capacity for international partnerships, cost effectiveness and an efficient regulatory system which prevails in the biotech space in Victoria can help develop ready to commercialise products with IP protection for Indian pharma-biotech companies, she added.

The biotech sector of Victoria is valued at $21 billion. Six biotech companies with a market capitalization of over $250 million include CSL in Melbourne for blood product and flu vaccines, Sigma for generics, Hospica for oncology generics, Avexa for its range of anti infectives including HIV and HPV (Human papillomavirus) and Chemgenex for late stage multiple myeloma (cancer).

Of the significant collaborative research and development projects are the Glaxo SmithKline team-up with Melbourne-based Biota for the drug discovery of anti flu vaccine. CSL teamed up with Merck for the development of the world's first HPV vaccine Gardasil. Pfizer has opted for Peter Mac for its expertise in translational research and advanced functional imaging to develop anti cancer drugs.

In 2005-06, under the Invest Australia programme, Victoria attracted 94 new projects valued at a $16 billion.

Since 2006, Victoria has been participating at the Bangalore Bio events primarily to woo Indian companies. In 2007-08, Deakin University, Victoria inked pact with Biocon to set-up a mammalian cell culture bio-processing facility at Geelong, Victoria. A memorandum of understanding between Deakin University and Government of Karnataka was also signed to set-up Deakin India Research University for post graduate and doctoral studies at the Bangalore Bio 2007. Since Karnataka is under President's Rule, no further information was made because of the election protocol during Bangalore Bio 2008. But efforts will be made to ensure that within five years over 300 doctorates will be armed with expertise in the areas of biotechnology and nanotechnology from this new University in Bangalore, informed Ms. Caples.

The science and technology infrastructure and solid research base at Victoria are resourceful educational hubs to hone technical skills, increase expertise in business development, commercialisation, entrepreneurship and innovation. State of Victoria teams are here in India to attract the students and scientific community to make the best out of it.