BangaloreBio to showcase India's BT progress

Complementing the rapid growth of the IT industry Bangalore, the emerging biotechnology (BT) sector will look for investments through partnerships and JVs at BangaloreBio 2007, the three-day annual event beginning Thursday.

The event will be inaugurated by finance minister P Chidambaram in the presence of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and will showcase the strengths and capabilities of the Indian BT sector in clinical trials, drug discovery and developing strains to enhance agricultural productivity.

"In line with our vision, the biotech event will focus on investment through partnerships. Pressure on the global biotech firms to develop affordable drugs and increase the farm output through research and innovation is advantageous to India in terms of human capital, natural resources and lower costs," said Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw at a preview of the event here.

Billed as the biggest biotech show in South Asia, the seventh edition of BangaloreBio will play host to over 600 conference delegates, about 150 exhibitors, 85 national and international speakers and an estimated 20,000 business visitors from 15 countries and states across the country.

The flagship event has also attracted high-profile delegations from Australia, Bavaria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Holland, Japan, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Singapore and Spain.

A 14-member delegation from the state of Victoria in Australia, led by governor David de Krester, will beckon Indian biotech entrepreneurs and firms to partner with their counterparts in its state.

Promoted by the Karnataka government and organised by the vision group of biotechnology, the networking event brings all stakeholders on a single platform for interactive sessions with peers in pharma and financial sectors and hardsell their innovations, products and services.

"The focal theme for this year's event is 'Think Biotechnology, Think Innovation and Think Growth.' Bio-manufacturing and clinical developments demonstrate the growing maturity of Indian firms. The game plan is to combine native capabilities with innovation through partnerships," Mazumdar, who is also chairperson of the Karnataka Vision Group on biotechnology, pointed out.