Biotech Resource Centre kicks off

In the first phase the centre will offer guidance and information services and help entrepreneurs find existing research laboratories. UoP will provide space for the first phase.

A M Khan,state principal secretary,Industries said that in phase II identification of land,construction of buildings and installation of infrastructure will take place. On Maharashtra’s Biotech Policy,he said when the policy was framed in 2001,it was sort of a vision document intended to chart the path for the next 10-15 years. “It recognised the enormous potential of biotechnology to bring transformation in people’s lives,” he said.

He stressed regulatory framework and developing safeguards and such safeguards in India are adequate but are still being debated. Khan said provisions in the policy,which give immense importance to development of infrastructure,encourage participation of the private sector.

Pramod Chaudhari,chairman,CII State Council and executive chairman,Praj Industries Ltd said the annual turn over of the BT industry was Rs 10,0000 crore. “Of this Biopharma includes 67 per cent,bio-services include 15 per cent,Agri biotech 12 per cent,Bio Industries 4 per cent and bio-informatics 2 per cent,” he said.

Malini Shankar,Development Commissione-Industries, Maharashtra,Dr A S Kolaskar,former vice chancellor,University of Pune spoke at the function