Kerala is all set to emerge as the next destination for the Biotechnology Industry. This was reverberated at a session on Kerala as the new Biotechnology Hub: Opportunities and challenges organised by GTech in partnership with Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology, Kreara solutions and Technopark. Setting the tone, Dr. M Radhakrishna Pillai, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology spoke on the importance of using Information Technology in doing research and Development work in the Biotechnology Industry. There is a distinct connect between Information Technology and Biotechnology and new areas have recently emerged in the sector where Information Technology is used for developing computational and statistical solutions for the Industry. Dr. Pillai added that the biggest risk being faced by the biotechnology Industry is lack of information regarding the analysis of genome.
Delivering the Inaugural address Sri Oomen Chandy leader of the opposition, Kerala Legislative assembly spoke on the innumerable benefits offered by Biotechnology and added that the state is better positioned to reap the benefits of Biotechnology and said that the sector offered a lot of scope for Biotech Entrepreneurs. Mr. Chandy observed that in recent years, the researcher-entrepreneur has become a role model in research institutions and business circles and added that most of these researcher-entrepreneurs who set up their own companies were scientists who had achieved recognition. Mr. Chandy further added that today, most are younger researchers who have specialist knowledge and are attracted by the capitalist adventure and therefore, to support the acquisition of such specialist knowledge in developing countries, courses with emphasis in molecular biology, Genomics, proteomics, bio imaging, and bio-informatics must be included in the curriculum. Mr. Chandy also noted that during a recent Kerala Ministerial delegation to US met up with US-based Biotech Company Solazyme that produces oil out of algae through the biotechnology process, and the oil in turn could be used for various purposes including fuel. Efficient sewage treatment and degradation of petroleum and management of oil spills by genetically modified microorganisms can be applied to improve the environment added Mr. Chandy.
During the panel discussion that followed, panellist spoke on the strategies that Kerala could adopt to create an enabling environment for the growth of Biotech Industry. Dr. Krishna Menon, Chief Scientific Officer, Cellceutix Biopharmaceuticals spoke on the importance of academia Industry Interface to nurture the growth of the Biotech Industry. Dr. Sanjay Hegde, Head clinical operation Piramal Life Sciences spoke on the importance of clinical Research and how can Kerala can be a hub for Clinical Research taking into account the availabilibilty of Human Resource in Kerala and also due to the presence of a large number of medical institutions.
Mr. Satish Babu, Secretary of GTech, said that GTech would be playing a proactive role in supporting the development of the Biotech Industry in the state especially in the areas of Bioinformatcis. Mr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, COO Allianz Cornhill Information service while moderating the discussion said that GTech would bring out a document in consultation with the concerned Government Agencies as a follow up to the discussion which would facilitate the creation of a structural framework for the emergence of the Biotech Industry in the State. Mr. Mervin Alexander, CEO of Technopark spoke about the need for Entreprenuers to take up Biotech Industry related projects in the state.
Technopark based Kreara Solutions and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology has entered into an MOU for doing research on developing Predictive Software for Leukaemia and also for undertaking research projects of International Research Organisations on Clinical Bio informatics.
Delivering the Inaugural address Sri Oomen Chandy leader of the opposition, Kerala Legislative assembly spoke on the innumerable benefits offered by Biotechnology and added that the state is better positioned to reap the benefits of Biotechnology and said that the sector offered a lot of scope for Biotech Entrepreneurs. Mr. Chandy observed that in recent years, the researcher-entrepreneur has become a role model in research institutions and business circles and added that most of these researcher-entrepreneurs who set up their own companies were scientists who had achieved recognition. Mr. Chandy further added that today, most are younger researchers who have specialist knowledge and are attracted by the capitalist adventure and therefore, to support the acquisition of such specialist knowledge in developing countries, courses with emphasis in molecular biology, Genomics, proteomics, bio imaging, and bio-informatics must be included in the curriculum. Mr. Chandy also noted that during a recent Kerala Ministerial delegation to US met up with US-based Biotech Company Solazyme that produces oil out of algae through the biotechnology process, and the oil in turn could be used for various purposes including fuel. Efficient sewage treatment and degradation of petroleum and management of oil spills by genetically modified microorganisms can be applied to improve the environment added Mr. Chandy.
During the panel discussion that followed, panellist spoke on the strategies that Kerala could adopt to create an enabling environment for the growth of Biotech Industry. Dr. Krishna Menon, Chief Scientific Officer, Cellceutix Biopharmaceuticals spoke on the importance of academia Industry Interface to nurture the growth of the Biotech Industry. Dr. Sanjay Hegde, Head clinical operation Piramal Life Sciences spoke on the importance of clinical Research and how can Kerala can be a hub for Clinical Research taking into account the availabilibilty of Human Resource in Kerala and also due to the presence of a large number of medical institutions.
Mr. Satish Babu, Secretary of GTech, said that GTech would be playing a proactive role in supporting the development of the Biotech Industry in the state especially in the areas of Bioinformatcis. Mr. Rakesh Kumar Gupta, COO Allianz Cornhill Information service while moderating the discussion said that GTech would bring out a document in consultation with the concerned Government Agencies as a follow up to the discussion which would facilitate the creation of a structural framework for the emergence of the Biotech Industry in the State. Mr. Mervin Alexander, CEO of Technopark spoke about the need for Entreprenuers to take up Biotech Industry related projects in the state.
Technopark based Kreara Solutions and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology has entered into an MOU for doing research on developing Predictive Software for Leukaemia and also for undertaking research projects of International Research Organisations on Clinical Bio informatics.
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