The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Biotechnology finishing school getting ready

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Biotechnology finishing school getting ready

Staff Reporter

Bangalore Bio from April 24 to 26

Focus of the event will be to secure global partnership
There will be technical sessions for BT professionals

Bangalore: A finishing school dedicated to biotechnology, which has been on the anvil for a few months, is set to open early 2008, said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson of Karnataka’s Vision Group on Biotechnology.

Speaking here on Wednesday at the curtain raiser for the eighth edition of Bangalore Bio, the annual biotech event promoted by the State Government, Dr. Mazumdar-Shaw said the intention of the finishing school (to be housed at PES Institute of Technology here) was to “create industry-ready graduates” to meet the demands of a growing sector.

The curriculum for the six-month course had been finalised, said M.N. Vidyashankar, Secretary, Department of IT, BT, Science and Technology.

“The fees will be Rs. 45,000 and approximately 100 students will be taken in the first year and perhaps 500 in 2009.

All that remains is for a tie-up with banks,” Mr. Vidyashankar said.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mazumdar-Shaw said the focus for Bangalore Bio 2008, to be held here between April 24 and 26, would be on securing global partnership.

“India has been attracting attention globally as a country where research and development can be conducted in an affordable manner,” she said and added that global partnerships would enable the industry to “take a leap” in terms of innovation, marketing and funding growth.

Dr. Mazumdar-Shaw said the focus sessions in Bangalore Bio will include: agricultural biotechnology where crops that support renewable energy will be one of the aspects of focus; and health care, where special attention will be given to cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

An international conference, “bio-partnering” events, a trade show and “bio-excellence” awards will be some of the highlights, she said.

“One of the new features of Bangalore Bio 2008 will be the technical sessions, where biotech professionals, researchers and corporate researchers will present papers on biotechnology,” said Dr. Mazumdar-Shaw.

“The papers will be reviewed by Bangalore Bio Programme Committee, and those selected will be published in the Bangalore Bio Journal," she said.

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