Stressing the need for having an effective Public Private Partnership (PPP), scientific advisor to Department of Biotechnology, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr SR Rao said that the Union finance minister has announced Rs 20 crore towards PPP fund for R&D in the field of biotechnology and Rs 150 crore towards the pharma fund.

Dr SR Rao

Speaking at a media workshop on "Public Private Partnership in Biotechnology", organized by the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, he said that the creation of offshore technology R&D labs outside India would allow the scientists to share the technology know-how in the field, besides encouraging the outsourcing of the R&D centers.

Suggesting two future models for PPP in biotechnology – alliance model and R&D service model, Dr Rao said that the R&D service model would work along with the universities, government, private and others for encouraging PPP in the field of biotechnology research.

Speaking on the occasion, KK Narayanan of Metahelix, said that at least 50 percent of the government funded programs must have a commercial partner, who will be responsible for guiding the R&D program initiated by the government laboratories towards creating marketable products.

"This will ensure that R&D at government laboratories meets the requirement of the national and global market," he observed. Further, he suggested setting up of at least five new PPP in every state, each year, and at least one of these five should lead to new product introductions from 2010.

- CyberMedia News