Gujarat's untapped bio-potential
04 October 2004 | News
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| Chief Minister Narendra Modi cutting the tape to inaugurate the exhibition. |
Dr Manju Sharma, former secretary, Department of Biotechnology called upon the government to nurture strong industry–academia ties and strengthen the indigenous and region specific technologies. She also asked the big corporate houses to encourage Small and medium enterprises as this industry brings socio economic development faster to the society. For this the industry needs constant institutional support in the form of incubators and synergy between different departments/ regulatory agencies, she said.
Other eminent people from the industry such as Purvi Mehta Bhatt, director, The Science Ashram, Dr Rashmi Barbhaiya, CEO, Dynametics Consulting LLC, Bhavin Mehta, head, business development, IPBP, Dr TM Manjunath, consultant, Monsanto Ltd, Prof Subhash Chand, IIT Delhi, Dr Villoo Morawala Patell, founder and CEO, Avestha Gengraine Technologies, Dipal Palkhiwala, director, marketing, Maps India, Bhalchandra Lele, general manager, engineering & projects, Sartorius India, Larry Paulson, agriculture officer, USAID, Sanjiv Bhasin, COO, Rabo India Finance, Dr PK Ghosh, Sr VP BioCare SBU Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Dr Milind Antani, legal & tax consultant, Nishith Desai Associates shared their views on topics ranging from venture funding, industrial enzymes to bio agriculture and bioinformatics at the conference.
Besides having the longest coastline, strong cooperative base, active people participation, proactive government, business friendly industrial policy and existing biotechnology corporate base, the state is making all efforts to bring in awareness about biotechnology among students and also to bridge gap between industry and academia by organizing series of seminars. GSBTM has conducted one such seminar recently. "The government is also planning to make 'BioGujarat' a regular phenomenon to attract the investors to the state," informed J N Singh, secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat. With these efforts and impending announcement of the biotechnology policy will definitely create a good foundation for the biotech industry and simultaneously push the socio economic growth of the state.
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"Biotechnology will protect our land from becoming desert" "There is great scope and opportunity in the biotechnology sector. We want to encourage this and are ready to take the risk in investing in R& D activities, " said the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. Speaking after inaugurating 'BioGujarat – 2004' a two day conference on biotechnology at Ahmedabad, the chief minister said, "I am hopeful about biotechnology, as this will protect our land from becoming desert." He added, "We are not ready to stop at biotechnology but are also looking at nanotechnology. From the next academic year the state syllabus will include chapters on nanotechnology and biotechnology. Through these efforts we want to create and build a strong foundation for the next generation." On the changing global scenario and patent laws, he said, "We should accept and adopt to the changing situation. Hence our state universities are considering starting integrated courses on patent laws in science and technology. To develop and ensure a strong partnership between industry and academia we are setting up a biotechnology park near MS University, Vadodara." "To encourage more scientists to take up projects on biotechnology and related topics the state government is working on insurance schemes. And we have invited insurance companies to work on this scheme, "said Modi. Besides playing a key role in opening venture capital fund for biotechnology, the chief minister said, the state has schemes/programs of subsidies for pilot projects. Releasing the compendium of biotechnology organizations in Gujarat prepared by Ernst & Young, Narendra Modi said, "The state will give all IT benefits to BT. We will treat both the industries equally and promote both IT and BT. We will provide all facilities to promote and develop the sector in the state." |
