Current Programmes
1.
Punjab – The Biotech Destination : Current endeavours
(i)
Biotech
Policy
The
potential of biotechnology having been proved world over, the State
government with a vision for a knowledge driven Punjab has notified
the
biotechnology policy of the State formulated by PSCST, as part
of its Industrial Policy on February 28, 2003, as an expression of
State Government’s commitment. The salient features of the policy
are :
1. Ensuring availability of trained manpower.
2. Development of quality infrastructure.
3. Providing supportive environment.
4. Special incentives and exemptions.
5. Additional incentives for mega/pioneering projects.
A series of fiscal incentives and a liberal regulatory regime have
been announced as part of the policy to facilitate the growth of
this segment in the state. The State government has decided to
invest liberally for infrastructural and industrial development in
this sector to tap the commercial potential of biotechnology and to
take all such measures deemed necessary for the purpose of promoting
biotechnology as a science, profession, industry or trade for
socio-economic and technological development of the State.
(ii)
Mega Projects
for Infrastructure Development in Biotechnology & Nanotechnology
The first
state-of-the-art institutional cluster is being set up in Punjab
with an investment to the tune of Rs. 2000 crore. This cluster,
aptly named as ‘Knowledge City’, is being developed on about 400
acre land in Mohali, one of the most serene and modern urban areas.
The institutes / facilities coming up in the Knowledge City include
an Agri-Food Biotechnology Cluster, Institute of Nano Science &
Technology, Indian Institute of Science Education & Research and
Indian School of Business.
Agri-Food
Biotechnology Cluster
India’s first
Agri-Food Biotechnology Cluster is being set up in Mohali, Punjab.
It comprises National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI),
Bioprocessing Unit (BPU), Biotechnology Park and Incubator. The
setting up of NABI and BPU by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of
India at a cost of Rs. 380 crore has been approved by the Union
Cabinet. The salient features of various components of the cluster
are as below:
1.
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)
The Institute
will focus on agriculture and agri-processing for value addition
using biotechnological innovations and will be set up on 35 acres of
land. It will be an institute dedicated to translation and would
increase the competitiveness of agri-food industrial sector through
innovation and R&D support. The institute will also be involved in
training world class human resource in food science & technology and
nutritional science.
2.
Bioprocessing Unit (BPU)
The
Bioprocessing Unit would facilitate the scale-up and process
optimization of new technologies to link the R&D system with a
production facility.
DBT, GOI has
already arranged temporary premises in Mohali for operationalising
NABI and BPU in 2009.
3.
Biotechnology Park
The
Biotechnology Park would be set up in public private partnership.
The State Govt. has allocated 80 acres of land for the Park. DBT-GoI
has got the feasibility study done for the Park through M/s Ernst &
Young. The State Govt. has authorized Department of Biotechnology,
Govt. of India to start the process for identifying private sponsor
through bidding process for development of the Park. The Park would
provide:
·
Anchor Tenant Facility for large & medium scale companies for
high-end research & development projects.
·
Built-to-Suit Sites for small-scale industry for R&D and processing.
·
Multi-Tenanted Facilities for research & development by start-up
companies.
·
A
Service Arcade that would provide common facilities and utilities to
the industry
·
Special Economic Zone in about 25 acre area of the Park.
4.
Bio Technology Incubator
Punjab
Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) has been jointly setup by Govt. of
Punjab and Govt. of India to serve the Agri Food Biotechnology
cluster. PBTI has setup a state-of-the-art Quality Testing and
Certification Facility as one of its service facilities in the
transit premises at Mohali. This world class facilities is
well-equipped and is operating as per International Standards to
cater to the quality testing needs of Agri-Biotech and allied
sectors. The facility is already serving Agri based sectors
including dairy, fruits & vegetables, cereals, honey, malt, animal
feeds, feeding stuffs etc.
Institute
of Nano Science & Technology
In view of the pro-active role being played by Punjab Govt. for
promotion of Science & Technology, Union Cabinet has approved the
setting-up of Institute of Nano Science & Technology in Knowledge
City, Mohali at a cost of Rs. 142 crore. This institute is one of
the 3 state-ofthe- art institutes planned under National Nano
Science & Technology Mission for creating an ecosystem to make India
a global hub for research & development in Nanotechnology. The
institute envisages to focus on basic research, human resource
development, transfer of discoveries and intellectual knowledge in
the area of nanotechnology to industry partners for rapid
application and commercialization of technologies for economic
growth. The DST has made arrangements for immediate
operationalisation of the institute in temporary premises in Mohali
in 2009.
(iii)
Biosafety - State Biotechnology Coordination Committee
There has been a spurt in interest in Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) with the approval of Govt. of India in March, 2002 for
commercial cultivation of Bt cotton, a transgenic having a bacterial
gene effective against American Bollworm, the major cotton pest.
Further, the transgenic mustard, rice, tobacco and wheat are in
various stages of research and field trials. In the health care
sector, twelve therapeutic products have been approved for marketing
in India out of which four i.e. hepatitis B vaccine, erythropoietin,
interferon-α and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) are
being produced indigenously.
The
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), GOI has granted permission to
various companies to carry out limited field trials on Bt cotton in
Punjab. The commercial release of some varieties of Bt cotton has
also been permitted in the state by Ministry of Environment &
Forests, Govt. of India.
In
spite of the proven advantages of GMOs in both agriculture and
healthcare, there are concerns about the potential risks associated
with their use to human health, environment and biological
diversity. To address these concerns, ‘Rules for the manufacture,
use/import/export and storage of hazardous micro
organisms/genetically engineered organisms or cells’, 1989 were
notified and enforced w.e.f. 1.10.93 by Ministry of Environment &
Forests, Govt. of India under Environment Protection Act (EPA),
1986. The rules also cover the application of hazardous
microorganisms i.e. the microorganisms pathogenic to animals &
plants though may not be genetically modified.
In
compliance of the above said rules, the State Govt. has constituted
the State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC). SBCC has
nominated the Council to be the nodal agency for coordinating
Capacity Building Programs on Biosafety Issues. In this regard, the
Council regularly organizes training programs/ workshops for
representatives of relevant development departments, extension
workers, farmers etc and had brought out resource material on the
subject.
Contact Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora,
jkarora@pscst.com
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