Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will unveil the Biotech Strategy 2013 in April this year, said K VijayRaghavan, secretary, department of biotechnology (DBT).

“India is at the threshold of global developments and assumes significant  role with its technical manpower but what is needed is valuable expertise,” said the recently appointed DBT secretary who was the former director, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, in his keynote address at the Bangalore India Bio 2013.

“Therefore the DBT’s 2013 document was in the final stages of review and would look at a four pronged strategy to bring in the government, industry, research institute and global organisations to help the sector achieve its targeted revenues of $100 billion by 2025 from the current $7.5 billion,” said the new DBT secretary.

In this regard, DBT would continue to support in basic research and bring in the linkages. The strategy of 2013 would be to increase collaborations and this was the only way to support the basic research being carried out in the country. In fact DBT will support all partnerships for high quality standards in science and technology. Although our investment is small but we can be the rudder ensuring the direction and provide the connection with our teams in the department, he said.

“This is where BIRAC and other funding options will come out and our department will encourage affordable product development and provide the base of the Biotechnology Strategy 2013. Only increased interactions with the industry is the way forward because lifesciences research is a dynamic world. The word is changing and therefore only those that are agile can succeed. We cannot afford to be myopic. The reality is that engines of modern science and technology are still far from India. Indian biotechnology cannot afford to be isolated and it now needs to grasp every opportunity coming its way. We need to be aware of this and this is where an interactive situation will provide a steady flow of outcomes that will help the sector generate the revenues and the growth. The Biotechnology Strategy 2013 documents will provide much of these and be an enabler of inclusive and sustainable growth, said Prof. VijayRaghavan.