The Hindu Business Line : Work on Karnataka biotech park to begin by June

About Rs 11.5 crore has been granted by the State Government. The park is expected to be ready in 18 months after the foundation stone for the complex is laid in June, said Mr M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda, Secretary, IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology.

He was speaking to newspersons about the Bangalore Bio2005 conference, which commences on April 22.

"We are committed to building world-class bio infrastructure and providing proactive biotech policy support and opportunities to companies to utilise the abundant talent pool in Karnataka," he said, adding that the Centre was also expected to participate in the project with a contribution of Rs 15 crore.

The park will consist of an Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology and a Centre for Human Genetics, apart from infrastructure for the biotech companies.

Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson of Vision Group on Biotechnology and CMD of Biocon Group, said that though India accounts for just one per cent of the world's biotech market, its huge potential has attracted investors.

"This should given an impetus to the development of the biotech industry," she said.

Last year alone Karnataka attracted $400 million worth of investment from both foreign and Indian companies. Of this, Biocon alone accounted for Rs 750 crore.

The three-day annual event will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Agriculture, Mr Sharad Pawar, and will be addressed by the Union Minister for Health, Mr Anbumani Ramadoss, the Chief Minister, Mr Dharam Singh, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Siddaramaiah, and the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Kerala.

About 120 companies representing 15 countries would be participating in the conference, which would have sessions on frontier areas of biotech, clinical research, destination India, and current trends in agri-biotech.

Mr Sydney Brenner, Nobel laureate and Distinguished Professor at Salk Institute, San Diego will deliver the keynote address.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page