“Biotech companies in Karnataka, including Biocon, have contributed 26 per cent of the country’s biotech products worth $4 billion. More than half of the country’s biotech companies are in Bangalore and it has emerged the fourth largest biotech cluster in the world. The government aims to attract more investment in the sector,” he said.
Addressing the curtain-raiser event to announce the upcoming Bangalore India Bio 2015, here today, he said Bangalore has also emerged as the biotech capital of India and is next only to China in Asia.
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“We are planning to establish a biotechnology incubation centre to nurture biotech start-ups in Karnataka. The state has already set up as many as nine incubation centres in different engineering colleges across the state to raise new IT companies,” Patil said.
He said, the government will also encourage agriculture, horticulture-related biotech research activities. The government has earmarked Rs 8.5 crore to the Horticulture University, Bagalkot and Rs 6.5 crore to University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad for this purpose.
The scholarship provided to students undergoing training in biotechnology finishing schools in Karnataka would be increased to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000 per month, he said.
Earlier, Patil announced the Bangalore India Bio (BIB) 2015, an exhibition and conference on biotechnology, will be held from February 9 to 11, 2015 in Bangalore. The event is being organised by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology and Vision Group on Biotechnology.
As part of the event, a trade show will be held which will see exhibits from corporates as well as small and medium companies showcasing their technologies, products and services.
Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS) will organise the “Bio-Accelerate” programme, a live business plan competition for start-ups who are given an opportunity to present their concepts and ideas. Short-listed companies will present their business plans before a jury of industry and government officials.
Bangalore India Bio 2015 will include Biopartnering for B2B, B2G and G2G which will be powered by InterlinX an internet platform and software networking tool that helps delegates of BIB to maximise their time at the event by scheduling meetings before, during and after the event.
Bio Excellence Awards will recognise the contribution of start-ups and young biotech companies, and individuals for their outstanding achievements in the field of biotechnology.
Exhibitor awards for the best deigned and informative booths and poster presentation will also presented during the event.
Over 100 young researchers will present innovations through Poster Sessions Walkway of Discovery. The event will also include Bio Excellence Awards ceremony that will recognise the contributions of biotech companies and individuals for their outstanding achievements in the field of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.
BioQuiz, a quiz on biotechnology is being organised by the Department of IT, BT and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka with the objective to create awareness and help students understand science and biotechnology, and know about the immense potential that the Indian biotech sector holds.