BANGALORE: The Department of Biotechnology is pushing for a Rs. 1,000 crore package to stimulate the biotech sector by promoting innovation, creating world-class scientific pool and setting up 50 centres of excellence.

Department Secretary M. K. Bhan told reporters here on Monday that a five-year biotech development strategy document would be placed before the Union Cabinet in two weeks for approval.

The new strategy involves a wide-range of initiatives to be taken including fresh infusion of funds and interventions needed to provide world-class and tailor-made human resource for the industry. A major focus of the strategy is towards quality improvement in training and education.

The strategy sought to promote innovation by establishing 50 centres of excellence in the country in well-defined areas where there were opportunities for innovation, Mr. Bhan said.

The DBT had mooted setting up of four technology transfer centres.

These initiatives would require funds of about Rs. 1,000 crore, he said.

"We have asked for a pool of 500 scientists' jobs which can be plugged into the centres of excellence as there is a need to increase scientists' density in the country,'' Mr. Bhan said.

"Innovation is stagnant in this country. We have suggested a number of measures by which innovation can be promoted.'' The DBT has suggested a variety of schemes geared to encourage retention of scientists in government-run labs and institutions.

Special packages have been mooted for Indian scientists working abroad to return to their motherland and contribute to research and innovation activity.

It has proposed the establishment of an animal husbandry institute, animal biotech institute and centres for biotech, molecular medicine and stem cell research, among others.

The DBT's Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI) that directly funds companies with less than 500 employees for their innovative ideas in terms of grants and loans would be strengthened. The first lot of grants to 16 companies under the scheme was released recently, he added.

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