The Hindu Business Line : Gujarat Govt to set up biotech park in Vadodara

GUJARAT is betting big on biotechnology. The State with strengths in the pharmaceuticals, chemical and manufacturing sectors, has created a State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM) as well.

It proposes to set up the Gujarat Biotechnology Park in Vadodara with an investment of Rs 54 crore initially. The Park in Savli would be spread over 40 hectares and well linked to academia and the industry.

Similarly, a Gujarat Biotechnology Venture Fund (GBVF) is being created.

It is a 12-year close-ended venture capital fund with an initial proposed fund of Rs 50 crore involving the Government, public funding as well as corporates, according to a GSBTM publication.

The Union Department of Biotechnology Secretary, Dr M.K. Bhan, released an "Analytical report on the biotechnology sector", prepared by the Mission at the BioAsia 2005, which began here on Thursday.

The Mission Director, Mr A.K. Saxena, said the report provides the stakeholders, especially the Government agencies, an update on the current biotech activity in the State, identifies core areas and potential ones to accelerate growth as well as position Gujarat as a "Hub for biotech".

Responding to queries from newspersons, he said, "As per the Centre, Gujarat fell into the second list of biotech centres, after Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. However, we feel our timing is good to attract investors, encourage entrepreneurs and promote biotech."

The convergence of pharma, chemical and agri industry is successfully pushing up Gujarat as a potential biotech hub. Healthcare, biopharma, agri-biotech, industrial biotech, contract research, marine and environment biotech are the sectors under focus, he said.

The State Government has created biotech project profiles to attract investment and the GSBTM, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, created in April 2004 will play the role of a facilitator, Mr Saxena said.

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