India is proving its impact in the field of Biotechnology slowly but firmly, which seems to grow further in future.
With fewer than 300 registered companies, the biotechnology sector is small but is gaining in global stature. According to the World Health Organization, India is the fourth largest producer.
"The biotechnology sector is witnessing an impressive 40% annual growth," says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chief executive of Biocon, Bangalore.
The biggest boost to the biotechnology industry has come from the government itself. "Biotech is the government's priority area," says science minister Kapil Sibal.
As part of its strategy, the DBT is planning to make it easier for foreign-owned companies to set up in India.
The pharmaceutical industry's research and development spending has shot up from Rs2 billion in 2000 to Rs8 billion in 2004, says D. G. Shah, secretary-general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
With the growing biotech industry, more trained men power is also needed.
Although the country grants nearly 300,000 degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bioinformatics and the biological sciences each year, companies struggle to find skilled staff. "Most of them get their degrees without seeing a biotech lab," says Krishna Ella, managing director of Bharat Biotech International in Hyderabad. Most of those qualified also leave for greener pastures: up to 90% of those who finish their PhDs at the Indian Institute of Science go abroad. India needs to find ways to stem that massive brain drain, says Ella.
In addition to generating trained manpower and a knowledge base, India is proving to be an ideal setting for manufacturing activites and high-level biotechnology research programmes. With the initiatives taken by the government, Indian Biotechnology is poised for a tremendous growth.· Trained manpower and knowledge base· Good network of research laboratories· Rich Biodiversity· Well developed base industries (e.g.: pharmaceuticals, seeds)· Access to intellectual resources of NRIs in this area.· Extensive clinical trials and research - access to vast & diverse disease populations· Bio-diversity - India's human gene pools offer an exciting opportunity for genomic studies.· Agriculture being the mainstay of the masses translates into a corresponding growth of the Agribiotech sector.
So its clear that future of Biotechnology is bright and India has potential to prove ourself as we have done in IT.
With fewer than 300 registered companies, the biotechnology sector is small but is gaining in global stature. According to the World Health Organization, India is the fourth largest producer.
"The biotechnology sector is witnessing an impressive 40% annual growth," says Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chief executive of Biocon, Bangalore.
The biggest boost to the biotechnology industry has come from the government itself. "Biotech is the government's priority area," says science minister Kapil Sibal.
As part of its strategy, the DBT is planning to make it easier for foreign-owned companies to set up in India.
The pharmaceutical industry's research and development spending has shot up from Rs2 billion in 2000 to Rs8 billion in 2004, says D. G. Shah, secretary-general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.
With the growing biotech industry, more trained men power is also needed.
Although the country grants nearly 300,000 degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bioinformatics and the biological sciences each year, companies struggle to find skilled staff. "Most of them get their degrees without seeing a biotech lab," says Krishna Ella, managing director of Bharat Biotech International in Hyderabad. Most of those qualified also leave for greener pastures: up to 90% of those who finish their PhDs at the Indian Institute of Science go abroad. India needs to find ways to stem that massive brain drain, says Ella.
In addition to generating trained manpower and a knowledge base, India is proving to be an ideal setting for manufacturing activites and high-level biotechnology research programmes. With the initiatives taken by the government, Indian Biotechnology is poised for a tremendous growth.· Trained manpower and knowledge base· Good network of research laboratories· Rich Biodiversity· Well developed base industries (e.g.: pharmaceuticals, seeds)· Access to intellectual resources of NRIs in this area.· Extensive clinical trials and research - access to vast & diverse disease populations· Bio-diversity - India's human gene pools offer an exciting opportunity for genomic studies.· Agriculture being the mainstay of the masses translates into a corresponding growth of the Agribiotech sector.
So its clear that future of Biotechnology is bright and India has potential to prove ourself as we have done in IT.
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