The Hindu Business Line : `India should tap Europe's biotech R&D programme'

Research plans
Called FP7 or the seventh EU Research Framework Programme has identified biotechnology, generic tools and technologies, optimised healthcare delivery, and bio resources management and food safety as focus areas.

Bangalore , June 8

Indian biotechnologists should soon be able to tap a chunk of a proposed € 55-billion (around Rs 3,24,500 crore) collaborative R&D opportunity in Europe, according to Dr Andrew Sors, Minister-Counsellor, Head of Science and Technology, European Commission Delegation to India, Bhutan and Nepal.

Called FP7 or the seventh EU Research Framework Programme spread over 2007-13, the plan would be the largest international R&D programme in the world. It supports collaborative research by non-EU scientists in health, biotechnology, food safety and agriculture, Dr Sors told a news conference during the ongoing Bangalore Bio 2006 here. The EU is the international partner in the Bangalore Bio event.

FP7 has identified biotechnology, generic tools and technologies, optimised healthcare delivery, and bio resources management and food safety as focus areas.

EU has put in € 10.7 million in AstraZeneca's five-year tuberculosis drug project, under which the Anglo-Swedish pharma major will share its drug library of 10,000 compounds. The TB drug project has 15 other participants.

It is finalising with the Indian Government a € 300,000 food safety and standards information network for exports, and a € 9-million marine feeds plan with ICAR, according to Dr Manual Hallen, Head, Policy and Strategy Unit at the EC's Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Directorate; and Mr Stephane Hogan, Head, Biotechnology and Applied Genomics Unit, Brussels.

The potential for India is in infectious diseases, bioinformatics, stem cells, implants and devices. FP7 would support activities such as joint research, investigator-driven research and fellowships.

The FP6 projects for 2002-06 had 75 participants from India, involving public and private bodies such as IISc, IITs, AIIMS, IARI, CDAC, ICRISAT and TCS.