Kerala is looking at roping in American biotechnology players in its bid to attract more investments into this segment. A ministerial delegation has initiated measures aimed at this by holding discussions with a couple of biotechnology majors in the US.
State industry minister Elamaram Kareem and tourism minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who are leading the delegation, visited Solazyme this week for a first hand experience of the company’s operations in California. The company produces oil out of algae through the biotechnology process and the oil could be used for various purposes including fuel, a senior official said.
Solazyme is keen on setting up a pilot plant for algae-based fuel in a developing country where feedstock for growth of algae could be available in adequate quantity. The delegation also held meetings with Agility Bio and a venture capital fund keen on investing in India in various life sciences projects.
The delegation apprised the hosts of Kerala’s strength in the biotechnology sector like the presence Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, quality manpower, initiatives of the state to develop a biotechnology park at Kakkanad and a life sciences park that is to come up soon in Thiruvananthapuram, he added.
The state would also develop an incentive scheme for biotechnology companies as well as anchor tenants in the biotechnology parks by providing common facilities for small biotech companies.
