State, TN fight it out for bioinformatics park

State, TN fight it out for bioinformatics park
The Times of India

Bangalore: Old rivals Chennai and Bangalore are on a collision curve again. This time it is to grab a bioinformatics park, a project put forward by the central government.

Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have applied to the Centre to sanction a park for bioinformatics, which is a combination of biotechnology and software in their respective state capitals.

Says Karnataka BT secretary M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda, “With the strong IT and BT presence, Karnataka has got a fair chance to land the deal.”

Though Bangalore is hyped as India’s biotechnology capital from the standpoint of the number of biotech companies, it is yet to put together a biotech park. It was announced recently by the government that the foundation stone for the park, to be called Bangalore Helix, will be laid in June.

On the other hand Chennai, which is yet to develop as a biotech destination, has already established a biotech park called Ticel Biopark with an investment of Rs 62.5 crore. Tamil Nadu is focussing on setting up a marine biopark and also a medicinal plant park. The biotech park includes a bio-resource centre with wet lab facilities.

Once in full steam, the Ticel Park is likely to attract investments to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore and generate direct employment opportunity for 1,200 bio-technologists.

The TN state government is also set to float a venture fund, Emerging Opportunities Fund. Talks are currently on with IL&FS to set up this fund.