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Hyderabad , Sept. 5

NEW investments between Rs 800-1,000 crore per annum can be expected to go into biotechnology industry in the next five years, according to the Director of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Dr K.V. Raghavan.

Biotech has emerged as a top investment sector for venture fund organisations and during the past five years about 91 companies have received support; ICICI and SIDBI being the leading promoters, he told a two-day national symposium on "Biotechnology & Chemical Engineer", organised by the Dr B.V. Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT) in Medak district here today.

The increase in investments is likely in view of new venture capital in the form of the APIDC-VCL and the KSIDC creating sizeable funds. Similarly, exclusive biotech parks in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh are progressing well, Dr Raghavan, whose Institute is playing a role in setting up the first biotechnology incubator in Hyderabad, said.

He said the domestic biotech industry has 200 companies and nearly 49 per cent of these are directed towards agri-biotech and another 25 per cent into healthcare sector. The IICT Director felt that the biotechnology industry development should cluster around research and academic institutions to survive and grow well in a competitive market.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International (BBI), Dr Krishna M. Ella, said in the biotech business the dependence on imports was very high. From equipment such as gaskets, fermenters, filtration membranes, hepa filters to even repair and maintenance Indian companies have to look for foreign help. This was proving both expensive and time consuming, hence there was a need for domestic manufacture of at least key equipment to make our companies and research institutes competitive.

Biotech industry also needs skilled professionals and not just degree holders. Therefore there is tremendous scope for chemical engineers, who can play an important role in scale up of production he told the large gathering of Engineering students of the Institute.

Dr Krishna Ella said imports from Korea and China were giving a tough competition to the indigenous manufacturers of hepatitis B vaccine (BBI is among the earliest companies in the market). Referring to viral infections, which are a major challenge for biotechnologists, he said: "We don't have a strategy to detect quickly and control these infections. The latest episode of infections in Andhra Pradesh have demonstrated this".

The Chairman of the BVRIT, Mr Vishnu Raju, in his address said the two-day interaction symposium would help engineering students to get a good view of the industry as well as the research directions.

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