Biotech Public Schools No 3

The Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) offers training and research in the field of chemical engineering, chemical technology and pharmacy. ICT has emerged as a major center for development of applied chemical sciences. A 2011 annual survey on the research standards of engineering and technology institutes, conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, ranked ICT as number one in India and number four in the world.

During 2011-12, a total of 30 students were enrolled for the MTech course in bioprocess technology out of 323 applications received for admission and 10 students enrolled for the MTech course in food technology out of 101 applications received. Currently there are 20 students pursuing their PhD courses in bioprocess technology and food technology. There are a total of 34 full-time faculty members dedicated to biotechnology. Between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2011, ICT saw a total of 77 research papers published in national journals, and 667 papers published in international journals. Since 2003, around 25 international patents and three national patents have been filed.

A total of 24 labs are dedicated to biotech students with a capacity to accommodate 10 students per lab. About seven students opted to do PhD at ICT and 15 students got job placements through campus interviews with nine companies coming to the campus. ICT has 22 MoUs with foreign universities in countries such as the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

As a front runner of the Indo-US biofuels program, the DBT-ICT Centre of Energy Biosciences is India's first national bioenergy research center. Set up at an initial cost of Rs 24.8 crore, it is a multidisciplinary center with emphasis on cutting-edge technology. The center now will be focusing on algae biotechnology.

A budget of Rs 70-80 crore has been allocated to set up a dedicated department of biotechnology. The process of infrastructure building has commenced and is expected to be completed in the next two years. A total of 60 students would be enrolled for this department.