3 tie-ups between UK, Indian Cos announced

British and Indian companies have inked three new tie-ups in the bio-tech sector, British high commissioner to India Sir Michael Arthur said today.

Randox Laboratories would set up its first manufacturing unit outside UK in Bangalore, he told Bangalore Bio-2005, billed as one of Asia's largest BT shows, which began here.

Randox is stated to have developed and built the world's first diagnostic system based on bio-chips.A business tie up was also signed today between Zenosis of Britain, which has built and developed protein bio chip, and Edutech of India, he said.

Shantha Biotechnics, a leading Indian biotech company, has signed an agreement with Polytherics Limited, a University of London Biotech spin-out company, Arthur said.

Emphasising that knowledge sector was one of the key areas for further strengthening ties between India and the UK, he said a strong link between the two knowledge cities, Bangalore and Cambridge would go a long way in strengthening ties both at government and business levels.

Inviting Indian bio-tech companies with global ambitions to seriously look at the UK as a business destination, he said, "We hope many more pharma companies establish their offices in the UK".