Bangalore Bio 2009 inaugurated today

BANGALORE - The ninth edition of Bangalore Bio, India’s premier Biotechnology event organized by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Co was inaugurated today by Prithviraj Chavan, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charges) for Science and Technology and Earth Science, Prime Ministers’ Office and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions - Government of India, B.S. Yeddyurappa, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Katta Subramanya Naidu - Hon’ble Minister for IT and BT, Information, Excise and BWSSB, Government of Karnataka released the ‘BioSpectrum India Life Sciences Resource Guide 2009′ during the inauguration.

The other dignitaries present during the inauguration include H.E. Miguel Angel Ramirez Ramos - Ambassador, Republic of Cuba, Friedrich Rahn -Acting Consul General Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bangalore, Mr. Richard Hyde - British Deputy High commissioner, Karnataka,. Ashok Kumar C Manoli - Karnataka Principal Secretary for IT and BT and Science and Technology, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Karnataka’s Vision Group on Biotechnology and CMD Biocon, Aravind Jannu, IAS, Director, Directorate of IT and BT, Govt. of Karnataka and MD - KBITS, Sudhakara Rao, Chief Secretary - Govt. of Karnataka.

‘Biotechnology beyond boundaries - the promise of India’, is the focal theme of Bangalore Bio 2009

The THREE-day long event, being held at Hotel Ashok Lalit will consist of Multi-Track Conference, International Trade Show, BioPartnering, CEO Conclave, Bio IP Zone, Bio Excellence Award and a host of other events.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Richard J. Roberts will deliver the Inaugural Keynote address in the Opening Plenary of the Conference on day 2 at the Bangalore Bio 2009.

Bangalore Bio has continued its growth track inspite of the various challenges and hurdles due to the global economic slowdown. This year more than six hundred fifty Delegates from across the globe are participating in the six focused tracks and twenty two conference sessions. More than one hundred ten Indian and International speakers will be participating in these conference sessions. The Conference is organized by MM Activ and has been well supported and guided by ABLE, from the conception to implementation stages.

Bangalore Bio 2009 will witness over four hundred Biotech and Pharma Companies exploring new and innovative business opportunities.

This year, the Exhibition at Bangalore Bio has attracted over one hundred ten National and International organizations showcasing their innovation. There are fifteen organizations from Germany and exhibitors from UK, Australia and Singapore as well.

Bangalore Bio 2009 will play host to a large delegation from Germany, UK and Australia. There is participation from several other Countries like France, Spain, Italy, Holland, US, Canada, Cuba, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Iran and UAE.

BioPartnering, the first of its kind initiative by the organizers and Technology Vision Group (TVG), the world leaders in Partnering, has got a resounding response. More than four hundred business meetings have already been arranged through this initiative.

Around one hundred Young Researchers are participating and presenting their innovation in the Poster Session. Entrepreneurship Day and Bio-IP Zone that encourage and support the young entrepreneurs have been introduced for the first time in Bangalore Bio.

These astounding facts and figures in spite of the global economic meltdown, point out the importance of India and Karnataka in the global biotech industry and the leadership provided by Bangalore Bio.

Bio-Excellence award, instituted by the department of IT-BT and ST, Govt. of Karnataka, will identify and award biotech companies that have shown dynamic and significant leadership and outstanding contribution to their fields of biotech activities.

This year companies from four sectors of Biotechnology will contend for the top honors, namely - Healthcare, Agri-bio, Industrial Bio-tech and Bio-tech Services. The parameters for evaluation are Technology, Thought Leadership, Significant Contribution, and Turnover.

Inaugurating the event Prithviraj Chavan said, “Indian Pharma sector is growing at a rate of sixty five percent making it one of the fastest and high growth segments in the biotech industry. The reason is that, private sector companies will get immediate benefit from the R and D efforts in this sector. At the same time government of India is taking measures to see that there will be growth in other segments too.”

“Government of India is working to make National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority a reality, which will help the industry for the overall growth across all verticals. Indian Biotech sector will be of US$ twenty five billion by 2020. Government is promoting three major biotech clusters in the country- Bangalore, Faridabad and Mohali and the Centre will provide all support to these Biotech clusters. Due to indigenous R and D, today every third child is vaccinated with Indian vaccines and a breakthrough in developing swine flu vaccine is not far away,” added Prithviraj.

B.S. Yeddyurappa said, “The biotech sector which was growing at the rate of 35% to 40% for the past few years is today facing a lower growth rate of 18%. To infuse enhanced enthusiasm in the industry and make it more attractive for the industries to invest more, Karnataka Government will bring in a revised Biotech Policy within a month. Certain provisions of the Policy that are hampering the growth of the industry will be changed in the revised policy with an aim to help increased capacity building, fiscal incentives and concessions to the industry.”

“In addition to giving incentives and concessions to industry, State Government is also boosting the academic activities in the state by way of allotting 1,500 acres of land at Chitradurga for the second campus of IISc; resolving to set up a new agriculture university at Raichur and a horticultural university in Bagalkot”, added B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Katta Subramanya Naidu said, “Bangalore is already a hub for biotech activity with 187 companies with a major thrust on clinical research, clinical trials and contract manufacturing. State Government is trying to speed the development of the industry by taking it to Tier II and III cities. In these lines, Govt is planning Agri-Biotech Park at Dharwad, Marine Biotech Park at Mangalore, Animal House at Bidar and Phyto-pharmaceuticals Biotech Park at Mysore.”

“State Government has commissioned a Rs.16 crore R and D and Institutional Block comprising IBAB (Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology) and CHG (Centre for Human Genetics). Selection process of private partner for the proposed Rs.300 crore Bangalore Biotech Cluster is in progress. Participation from international community- governments and companies- to the 9th edition of the event is very good, despite global recession. For the first time, Technology vision Group of the US is partnering with the event”, added Naidu.

Presenting the overview of the industry, Dr Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said, “India’s promise is to focus on synergies and progress by partnering in knowledge. India can play a key role in addressing the global challenges of food and health insecurities. To achieve this goal, we need to innovate the very process of biotech innovation. In the last fiscal industry reached Rs 12,137 crore size with the annual growth rate of 18%. Though Mumbai cluster achieved highest growth rate among all clusters in India, Bangalore is still topping the list in terms of size at Rs 2,500 crore.”

“The soon to be released revised Biotech Policy of Karnataka will attract more investments into R and D. With this, Industry and government will achieve the goal of taking the fruits of innovation to those who need it most”, added Dr Kiran Mazumdar.

Ashok Kumar C Manoli said, “The flagship biotech event of India Bangalore Bio is offering new additions every year. Going forward in the same tempo, this year’s thrust is on BioPartnering with special focus on B2B. State government is playing a proactive role in encouraging the industry and giving budget support to complete Biotech Park in Bangalore.”

Sudhakara Rao said, “With the efforts of Government of India, State Government, STPI and industry, Bangalore Biotech Center is going to be a reality soon.” (ANI)