Biotechnology Future in India and Scope in Gujarat | Biotech. Colleges in Gujarat | upcoming Biotechnology program

  Biotechnology Future in India and Scope in Gujarat           

             

                At present in India, there are six major agencies responsible for financing and supporting researches in the realm of biotechnology apart from other sciences. There are

• Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
• Council of Scientific and industrial research (CSIR)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and
• University Grants Commission (UGC),
• Department of scientific and industrial research (DSIR).

 DST, DBT and DSIR is part of Ministry of science and technology while ICMR is with the ministry of health, ICAR with the ministry of Agriculture and UGC with the ministry of Human resource and department. DSIR is the funding agency for CSIR and both of them independently fund biotechnology-related research programs.

Human resource and development and training:

The department of Biotechnology is implementing an integrated programme of human resource development in biotechnology comprising of postgraduate teaching programmes in biotechnology to create a pool of talented students and upgrading skills of mid-career scientists and faculty by specialized training in leading national laboratories and overseas laboratories.

At present in India, there are six major agencies responsible for financing and supporting researches in the realm of biotechnology apart from other sciences:

The postgraduate courses were initiated in 1985 in six universities in close collaboration with University Grants Commission, ICAR and department of ocean department. Keeping in mind the demand for trained manpower in specific areas and regional aspirations, these programmes have been expanded in over 70 university in general, medical, agriculture, marine, veterinary, industrial and pharmaceutical biotechnology. The department is also considering to initiated new programmes in food & nutrition, clinical pharmaceutical and product development, bio-instrument and biomedical standards, bio enterprise management and financing, regulatory affairs etc.

Details of ongoing teaching programmes:

• M.Sc. courses in general biotechnology
• M.Sc. courses in agriculture biotechnology
• M. Tech courses in biochemical engineering, bioprocess and biotechnology
• M.Sc.(3/2 Years)courses in neuroscience
• M.Sc. courses in marine biotechnology
• M.V. Sc courses in animal biotechnology
• Master in molecular and human genetics
• M.Sc. courses in medical biotechnology
• M.Sc. courses in environment biotechnology
• M.Sc. courses in industrial biotechnology
• M. Tech in pharmaceutical biotechnology
• M. Tech marine biotechnology
• M. Sc. Plant biotechnology
• PG Diplomas (Post M. Sc./M.D./M. Tech)
• IPR diploma
• Medical biotechnology
• Genetic engineering and bioprocess development
• Animal Biotechnology

Status of Biotechnology in Gujarat:

The landscape of Gujarat Biotech industry, consist of more than 40 Biotechnology
Companies and 66 support organizations. The business break-up of biotechnology companies, consist of Manufacturing, R&D and services. Gujarat Biotech market has evolved around a few sub-sectors, in. Healthcare, Agri-Biotechnology, Industrial Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology and others, which include Contract research services suppliers, Foods and Nutraceuticals, Marine etc.

Gujarat has 14 Universities and more than half a dozen research institutes imparting postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Biotechnology and related allied sciences. About 20 institutes offer UG courses, 5 offer PG courses, 6 offer doctoral courses and 7 offer diploma courses. The state produces around 5000 manpower trained in biotechnology, which includes Ph.D.s, Post Graduates, PG Diploma, undergraduates, and other diploma courses, in various biotechnology-related disciplines (Source: Atlas of Biotechnology education in Gujarat, under publication)

Major Initiatives:

The state of Gujarat, with its proactive and visionary, approach has already taken key initiatives in Biotechnology. (1) The state has constituted the Gujarat Council of Biotechnology, which is headed by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat. The body has a representation of experts, technocrats, professionals, academicians, industries and policy planners. (2) The state has also constituted Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission [GSBTM], as an autonomous body, under the Department of Science & Technology. The Governing body of GSBTM is headed by Chief Secretary of Gujarat state and has a representation of policy planners of various departments. Industnes and Academia. GSBTM has become operational since April 2004.

GSBTM operates with the following mandate:

• To promote, support and facilitate the overall development of Biotechnology in the state
• To facilitate the infrastructure development, research and Innovation and Human resource department
• To facilitate Regional, National and International networking,
• To facilitate the creation of scientific awareness, socio-ethical acceptance, adoption and application of biotechnology

GSBTM has been undertaking initiatives pertaining to policy planning, infrastructure
development, research and innovation, human resource development, promoting biotech entrepreneurship, promoting biotech business, information dissemination and awareness development.

Planning ahead:

Biotechnology industries are, capital intensive, power-intensive, research driven and
have multi-sectoral linkages. Biotechnology industries are Research and Development oriented, Manufacturing based and/or Bio-service providing. Biotechnology, have an interface with multiple sectors, namely, Agriculture, healthcare, environment, marine, animal husbandry etc. The Biotechnology Industries have multiple client spectrum, characterized by starters, existing entrepreneurs venturing in the BT field and established business houses diversifying in Biotechnology

Developing Biotechnology Infrastructure:

State Government, through collaborative partnerships and provisions of incentives/concessions propose to encourage and facilitate the private sector, in developing necessary Biotechnology infrastructure such as Biotechnology Parks and other supporting infrastructure for research, training, testing, accreditation etc

Biotechnology Zones/Estates:

State's varied regional characteristics such as geographic location; agro-climatic conditions, distribution of industries, academic institutes, research centre etc. provide comparative advantage to a particular biotech sector. In view of such comparative advantages, the Government of Gujarat proposes to encourage the development of dedicated biotech clusters in the form of biotechnology zones/estates. Some of the identified zones are as follows:

• Vapi-Surat-Bharuch-Ankleshwar, as a zone for Biochemical engineering processing, for Industrial Biotechnology

• Vadodara-Anand-Nadiad, as a zone for Food & Food processing for Animal Biotechnology,
• Junagadh-Bhavnagar & Banaskantha-Mehsana as zones for agriculture Biotechnology.
• Ahmedabad-Surendranagar, as a zone for Bio-Pharma
• Jamnagar-Dwarka-Porbandar as zone for marine Biotechnology,