A global bio business forum- a curtain raiser

Starting from February 26, 2004, BioAsia 2004 will be the first biotech event of the year. Hyderabad plays host to the event. This is the inaugural biotech event of the AP Government and will be held at Hitex in Hyderabad till February 28, 2004. BioAsia 2004 is being promoted by the government of Andhra Pradesh and Genome Valley, Hyderabad, as a global bio business forum and is aimed to be an ideal platform for companies, government, thought leaders and technologists from across the globe to transact business; build global alliances and collaborations; showcase products and services; and network with industry leaders, research scientists and media analysts.

Chairman of the biotech advisory committee Dr D Balasubramanian informed, "Bio Asia 2004 will consist of a tradeshow, a conference, a B2B forum, CEO Conclave and a knowledge pavilion." According to available information about 60 internationally acclaimed speakers are expected to participate in the event of which several key people like Prof. William Rutter, Dr RA Mashelkar, Dr MS Swaminathan and Dr Manju Sharma have confirmed participation.

Dr Balasubramanian further added, "The idea is to promote this as Asia's biotech event and get most of the Asian countries to participate." Highlighting the countries that are already in the forefront of biotech he said, "China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and India have already made big strides in different areas of biotechnology and now we need to share the experiences and collaborate to emerge stronger, faster."

The BioAsia conference is stated to cover topics such as: Biotechnology in Asia: Partners in progress, Creative Out partnering: Building and managing partnerships for future growth, Vaccine Industry in Asia: A look at the growth perspective, Commercialization of GMOs: Incentives & Thrust areas/future directions and issues regarding GM Organisms, Building a successful biotech company in today's marketplace: Vital role of VC funding.

"The B2B Forum at BioAsia will focus on investment opportunities in the bio pharmaceutical industry in India. Venture capitalists, financial institutions and other investors are widely expected to participate in this forum. The B2B Forum is scheduling one-to-one sessions between the different participants of the program. Delegations from Iowa, San Francisco, North Carolina, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have already confirmed their participation," added to BP Acharya, industries secretary, government of AP. BioAsia has many hopes to be fulfilled and demonstrate the newer trends.

Biotech in AP

• Andhra Pradesh is the first state in the country to have an exclusive policy for biotechnology in the year 2001. Companies from the state have generated over Rs 200 crore in 2002-03. It has a specific department and secretary for biotech.

• Has a dedicated BT Park, Genome Valley. "Genome Valley" has be trade marked. Phase-II expansion on.

• Considering establishing The International Institute of Life Sciences in Hyderabad, involving the leading biotech and life sciences industries in the State.

• Is developing centers-of-excellence in different branches of biotechnology viz. for agri and veterinary biotechnology in Acharya NG Ranga University, an agribiotech incubator in ICRISAT, a marine resource development center in association with Andhra Pradesh University and a pharma biotech hub in SP Biotech Park & ICICI Knowledge Park in Genome Valley near to Hyderabad.

• Plans setting up a marine park near Visakhapatnam. Has over 75 biotech companies. DBT has announced setting up an incubation center with Rs 25 crore outlay.

• The state initiated APIDC Venture Capital Ltd, a joint venture between the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation and Dynam Venture East of USA, which has been providing venture capital to biotech start-ups.

• It has also an integrated IPR facilitating cell at ICICI Knowledge Park established is association with CII. This is to cater to the growing demands of the industries in Andhra Pradesh for patent search and analysis, patentability advisory services, IPR awareness and training.

• Has entered into several MoUs with countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Canada, and the US.

• There are many startups and technologies in biotechnology. Matrix Laboratories, GVK Bio-Sciences, Bio-Serve Biotechnologies, Krebs Biochemicals, Indigene Pharma etc are a few start ups with their new technologies and international partners located in the Knowledge Park. The Biotech Park has companies like Genotex, KCP Biotech, Ocimum, Jasmine, Aktiva Biotech and Sandor. These are all startups with good promise. Many companies have anti-cancer and anti-AIDS technologies and products like diagnostic kits are being proposed to be manufactured in Hyderabad.

• Besides there are established companies like Indian Immunologicals, Shantha, Bharat, Biological E and Dr Reddy's who are working on real cutting edge biotech products.

• Is surrounded by leading institutions like IICT, CCMB and CDFRI.

• Strengthening the existing training and educational institutions in the state. Planning to set up one Marine Bioresources Development Center in Visakhapatnam. While an agribiotech incubator is coming up in ICRISAT campus, National Animal Resource Testing facility is being set up in collaboration with ICMR/NIN at Genome Valley.