Biotech team to showcase India life sciences sector at Boston BIO meet

Source: The Hindu Business Line, May 10, 2012

Bangalore: The Association of Biotech Led Enterprises (ABLE) is leading an Indian biotech delegation to BIO international convention held at Boston, US.

A team of 40-member companies are to showcase and effectively position Indian life-sciences sector in global landscape.

As part of the BIO convention, ABLE is to hold exhibition, India evening networking reception, Biotech Mission, India exhibitor catalogue show.

The main agenda for the industry body is to facilitate opportunities to Indian industry for business and research and development collaborations and for Indian R&D/academic institutions to showcase R&D strengths for co-operation.

ABLE plans to showcase biotech parks established (and under establishment) in various States to attract global biotech industries to India.

2 Indian probiotic cultures available for commercial use

Source: The Economic Times, May 07, 2012

AHMEDABAD: Two probiotic cultures developed indigenously by the Anand Agriculture University (AAU) in Gujarat for supplements and dairy products, have now been made available for commercial use, a top university official said.

Probiotic organisms are live microorganisms (in most cases, bacteria) that are similar to beneficial microorganism found in the human gut. They are also called ‘friendly bacteria or good bacteria’. Probiotics are available to consumers mainly in the form of dietary supplements and foods.

Biotech delegation to visit Canada

Source: Business standard, Feb 13, 2012

Mumbai: Led by Ahmedabad-based trade networking and consulting firm Global Network, a delegation of eight biotech companies is set to visit Manitoba, a state in Canada.

With growing opportunities and businesses in biotech sector in Gujarat, the Manitoba Trade and investment, Government of Manitoba and Life Sciences association of Manitoba has organised a biotech summit between companies from Gujarat and the Canadian state. “The Bio tech meet with Manitoba based companies will be a step forward in Gujarat-Manitoba biotech relationship.

Novozymes partners with Sea6 Energy for biofuels from seaweed

Source: The Hindu Business Line, Feb 01, 2012

Bangalore: Global biotech major Novozymes has partnered with Bangalore-based biotech start-up – Sea6 Energy – for exploratory research and to jointly develop a process for the production of biofuels from seaweed.

The research alliance is expected to use enzymes to convert seaweed-based carbohydrates to sugar, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol for fuel, fine chemicals, proteins for food, and fertilisers for plants.

Rs 100-cr biotech park to be set up in Mysore

Source: The Hindu Business Line, Dec 22, 2011

Bangalore: A Rs 100-crore neutri/neutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical (N2P2) project would be developed in Mysore.

The Vision Group on Biotechnology headed by Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has recommended sector-specific biotech parks to be set up in tier 2/3 cities of the state and this project is one such to be developed in Mysore, Principal Secretary in the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Mr M.N. Vidyashankar, told PTI here.

India’s biotech sector to grow 20% in foreseeable future

Source: The Economic Times, Oct 17, 2011

BANGALORE: India’s biotech sector is expected to grow at a robust 20 per cent per annum in the near future, given the growing demand for biopharmaceuticals, biosimilars and vaccines, says a veteran in the field.

Biofuels would also offer a huge growth opportunity in biotech, the Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon, the country’s largest biotech company by revenue, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said.

China, India making inroads in biotech drugs

Source: The Economic Times, Sept 19, 2011

Chinese and Indian drugmakers have taken over much of the global trade in medicines and now manufacture more than 80 percent of the active ingredients in drugs sold worldwide. But they had never been able to copy the complex and expensive biotech medicines increasingly used to treat cancer, diabetes and other diseases in rich nations like the United States – until now.

US-India Business Council roped in for Bangalore biotech show next year

Source: The Hindu Business Line, Aug 26, 2011

Bengaluru: US-India Business Council (USIBC) will participate in the 12th edition of Bangalore India Bio, an annual biotech show, next year, said Karnataka’s Vision Group of Biotechnology.

“Since US is the biggest biotech market with a size of $5 billion, we are roping in USIBC to explore business opportunities both in the US and in India. They are expected to bring a sizeable team to participate at the biotech event,” Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Karnataka’s Vision Group on Biotechnology said at the launch of Bangalore India Bio 2012.

“The next edition of biotech event has advanced the event to February from traditionally held during mid-June. In addition to USIBC, there will be good global participation and the event will focus on regulatory issues, business ethics as we need to engage public at large as to how business is conducted in India,” she added.

In addition to USIBC and the US’ participation, countries like Germany, France, the UK, Holland, Spain, Italy, Korea, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore have also shown interest.

Karnataka, in particular, and India, in general, have entrenched itself as a major hub for biotech innovations and collaborations. “Keeping this in mind we plan to focus on the theme ‘India the emerging bio economy’. At the event we expect to connect with global and domestic life-sciences industry, scientific community, policy makers and regulators and several other Indian biotech States,” Ms Shaw said.

Investing In Bio-Ventures

Investing in biotech ventures has been a challenge.

Ms Shaw said, “Bankers, investors and funds need to understand the business and invest early for good handsome gains. But they do wait and watch till a venture attains critical mass to jump into the bandwagon.”

“Investing in mature business is one and investing in innovative venture at nascent stage is another. Finally it is the ones who bet early get rich dividends,” she added. In biotech-led healthcare, a few companies in the country have made a mark. Thanks to a few funds and investors, India has become a vaccine hub. “There are many innovative ventures working to take advantage of spiralling healthcare cost, unmet medical needs (new drugs), agriculture biotech to handle food security, eco-sustainability and bio-energy, it is time the investors take advantage of this and bet on entrepreneurs,” said Ms Shaw.

India to showcase biotech strength in US

Source: The Economic Times, Jun 26, 2011

NEW DELHI: The Indian biotechnology industry will showcase its advancement and latest technology at an international convention in Washington next week.

Industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will organise an India pavilion at the Bio International Convention 2011 to be held in Washington June 27-30.

Biotech firms want more government support

Source: The Times of India, May 05, 2011

BANGALORE: The biotech industry in Karnataka is hoping for more fiscal sops, tax holidays and institutional funding. Many small biotech companies preparing for the long haul say they are inundated with infrastructure and regulatory hurdles , pulling down the prospects of the nascent industry.