Among the recepients of biotech product and process development and commercialization awards for 2013 included Dr Samit Kumar Nandi from West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences for his pioneering work in developing of methods of using biomaterials in treatment of orthopaedic surgical challenges.

The awards instituted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, were distributed by the President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee on May 11, 2013 at a function held in Vigyan Bhawan at New Delhi to mark the National Technology Day 2013.

The second receipient was Dr KM Shankar (including other team members Mr Kalkuli Mariappa and Mr Hegde Shankar) from Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, were awarded for development of farmer level monoclonal antibody-based diagnostics kits for white spot virus of shrimp and other four aquatic pathogens in India.

For development parentage verification kits of buffalo, cattle, sheep, goat, camel, yak and mithun, Dr RK Vijh and his team from National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal, were the third recipients of the award.

The final award was recieved by Dr Daman Saluja from University of Delhi, who was awarded for his pioneering work for developing PCR-based diagnostic kit for neisseria and chlamydia.