The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Biotechnology park to become a reality soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Biotechnology park to become a reality soon

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, FEB. 1. The proposed biotechnology park will become a reality with the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) planning to start the construction work next week. The ``bhoomi puja'' ceremony for the park will be held at Kalamassery to mark the beginning of the construction work.

In the initial phase, a building for incubation centre will be constructed followed by other wings of the park, said S. Ramnath, Chief Executive Officer of the KINFRA.

The agency has also identified the joint venture partner for setting up the park. The director board of the KINFRA will take a final decision regarding the joint venture partner.

Central team

A three-member Central team was in the State during the last two days to assess the scope and potential of the park. It was at the instance of the Department of Biotechnology that the team consisting of V.P. Kambog, Director of Endocrinology at the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, V.S. Chauhan, Head, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, and A.S. Ninave, Director of the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, reached the State.

They visited the scientific research institutions that are likely to benefit from the park, including the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Export Promotion Industrial Park, Centre for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Management of the Cochin University and Science and Technology (Cusat), Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, and Sree Chithra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram.

The KINFRA had approached the Department of Biotechnology of the Central Government for financial assistance of Rs. 17 crores for the project. The projected estimate of the park is Rs. 39 crores.

The park, which will come up at a 50-acre plot at Kalamassery, will focus on the commercial applications of biotechnology. The thrust area of the project will be practical application and utility of the bio-resources of the State, Mr. Ramnath said.

Ayurveda products

The park is also expected to develop medicinal products from ayurveda. The rich bio-density of the State, which is considered as the highest in the world, will be capital of the park.

According to an estimate, there were nearly 700 plant species in one square kilometre in Kerala, which enhanced the scope of the park, Mr. Ramnath said.

Though research and development activities were not in the agenda of the park, space for R&D activities would be allotted if some major organisations were keen on setting up facilities here, he said.

The incubation centre at the park will support prospective young entrepreneurs in the field of biotechnology.

There will also be a business enterprise zone and business centre at the park.

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