BT Park (still) on the anvil

Karnataka’s first biotech park

To be named Bangalore Bio-cluster, the State's first ever biotech park boasts of cutting edge technology and provides world-class facilities.

Times of India

Bangalore Bio-cluster, a new biotechnology park is being set up at the Electronic City Phase II. This new venture will be set up initially over an area of around 85 acres. An additional 15 acres of land will be added to the park later. The park will offer world-class infrastructure for high-end research in biotechnology. Also, a captive power plant, common effluent treatment plant, solid waste treatment with wastewater recycling, and various such facilities will be part of the park's amenities. This project is the first of its kind in the State. Speaking on the project, M K Shankaralinge Gowda, Secretary, the State’s Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology, said: "The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 100 crores and it will be functional in a year's time. We are working out the costs and a revenue model for occupants of the Park using the common facilities but it would not be too expensive".

He said the project is aimed at creating world-class infrastructure for life science research, accelerate commercialisation of new technologies, enable the biotech start ups to forge alliances with research institutions, academia, industries, foster and mentor the challenges in biotechnology investments, creation of employment, and promoting a bio-clustering effect.

"The proposed biotech park will comprise blocks/plots of various dimensions with net built area measuring between half acre and five acres with infrastructure facilities such as landscaping, all season concrete roads with solar lights, storm water drainage, water storage, harvesting and supply, walk-in ducts, power and telecom fenced", he said, adding that many private builders are showing interest in coming up with residential projects. The Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology, Science and Technology he said, will scrutinise applications and allot plots.
The common facilities centre will feature an i n s t i t u t i o n a l block, administrative block, incubation centre, wet labs, common instrumentation facilities, Insilico biology facility (virtual cell modeling and simulation f r a m ewo rk ) , and business services.

A successful launch of a life sciences technology company requires specialised expertise, suitable facilities, and significant amounts of capital. But even when those requirements are met, biotechnology start-ups still face significant market, regulatory, and capital risks. To help life sciences start-ups meet and manage these inherent challenges, and aid biotech companies with quality infrastructure to develop inter and networking at the site, sitespecific parking facility, and the entire Park will be intra strategic alliances among the occupants of the park, the State's IT and Biotechnology Department is setting up a dedicated park for biotechnology.

Facilities in Bangalore Bio-cluster

Institutional Block: This will comprise Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Centre for Human Genetics (CHG), and library facilities.

Administrative Block: The administrative block will comprise front-end desk, reception, an information centre, park authority administrative office, Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), the K a r n at a k a Biotechnology Development C o u n c i l (KBDC) and an auditorium.

Incubation Centre: This centre will service biotechnology companies by helping them appraise commercial opportunities of their ideas and technology, provide information on finance and help in securing finance, help with securing interim premises, assist in negotiations with commercial business partners and advice on specialist regulatory, provide assistance in matters of intellectual property and legal issues and nurture them.

Wet Labs: There will be totally 24 wet labs with 12 wet labs of 900 sqft floor area each and 12 wet labs of 1,500 sqft floor area each. The wet labs will have independent exhaust systems with fume hoods, laboratory laminated benches with gas, air and vacuum lines, high-purity RO deionised water, and a host of other such facilities of world class standards.
Common instrumentation facility: This block will have analytical laboratory facilities, animal houses, green houses, basic research laboratory facilities, cell/tissue culture laboratory facilities, facilities for chromosome mapping cloning/sub-cloning, and purification laboratory facilities for DNA, protein, and RNA

Insilico Biology Facility: Super-computing facility with several networked graphic workstations with high end PCs and advanced technological tools to assist in research.

Business service centres: Private offices will be made available with modular furnishings. These can offer services in advertising and business development, communications, computing and technology, conferences/trade shows facilities, auditorium, shipping and logistics and other such facilities.