Yawn: Biotech Park Graduates To Lab-Phase

Biotech Park Graduates To Lab-Phase
Tenders Called For Construction Of Common Research And Development Facility
The Economic Times


THE MUCH-DELAYED biotech park in Bangalore is likely to see some progress with tenders being called for by this month-end to build the common laboratory facility.

Talking to ET, Mr Shankaralinge Gowda, State IT & BT Secretary, said that the plan is to build the common lab and bring in the biotech academic institutions during the first phase.

The park spread across 85 acres and located at Electronics City Phase III will see eight acres being occupied by two institutions — the Institute of Bioinformatics & Applied Biotechnology (IBAB) and Centre for Human Genetics. Mr Gowda said the focus of the park is to create an R&D cluster for the biotech industry in the State and the common lab facility will serve as the validation centre for all research activities. This lab facility has already received Rs 15 crore grant from the Centre while Rs 25 crore is being invested by the state government and may take a year to be completed.

Once this facility is set up, the expression of interest (EoI) will be called for developing the biotech park as a joint venture between the state government, Centre and an independent developer. Gowda said the biotech park has already received 20 applications from companies in countries like the US, UK, Germany, and also from some domestic companies. The plots are already available and these firms may start their operations once the lab facility is set up.

Mr Gowda said the aim of the biotech park will be to create the right platform for attracting companies and talent. The BT secretary attributed the delay in the functioning of the biotech park to the “paperwork.” The state government is also trying to promote Hassan as a destination for the commercialisation of any biotech product. Mr Gowda said the idea is to do the core R&D activity in Bangalore while the actual production can be at places like Hassan.