Current Programmes
1.
Initiatives for Promotion of
Biotechnology Sector in Punjab:
1.1
Setting up of
Mohali Biotechnology Park
The Council has been making consistent efforts for development of
world-class infrastructure in Punjab in the area of biotechnology.
Towards this end, the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute
coordinated by the Council has already been made operational by
Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India in a transit
campus set up at Mohali. The Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, a
spin-off of the Council is also operative in Mohali and is providing
facilities for quality testing & certification of agri-produce /
products.
The Council
is now facilitating the setting up of Biotechnology Park on behalf
of the State Govt. It is a joint project of GOP & DBT-GOI and is to
be developed through Public-Private Partnership. The Park would
provide facilities to industry for research & development,
processing and other operations in various application areas of
biotechnology including agriculture, food, pharma, energy etc.
The competitive bid
process for selection of the developer has been initiated and
Requests for Proposal (RFP) have been invited jointly by Govt. of
India and the State Govt. Joint Management Committee (JMC) jointly
chaired Secretary, DBT,GOI and Chief Secretary, Punjab has worked
out such evaluation parameters and methodology which would help in
assessment of strengths of bidders based on their relevant
credentials, past experience and potential to develop the park,
based on their plans & projections.
DBT and GOP are in the
process of jointly incorporating a Section 25 (non-profit) company
which will oversee the development of Park and would promote
innovation and knowledge commercialization in the area of
biotechnology in the State. The land for the Park has already been
transferred by GMADA to State Department of Science, Technology &
Environment which will alienate it to the Section 25 Company which
shall further provide the site to the developer as per provisions of
the Project Development Agreement to be signed by it with the
developer. The setting up of Park would not only lead to scale
up of operations across the value chain in agriculture / food &
other application areas of biotechnology and improvement of State’s
economy but is also envisaged to have a multiplier effect in the
entire northern region of the country.
1.2
Organisation of Interactive Meet at NABI
As a result of efforts
made by the Council, DBT, GOI has sanctioned the setting up of
National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) and Bioprocessing
Unit at a cost of Rs.380 crores in Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali.
As mentioned above, the institute has been made operational in the
transit facility at C-127, Industrial Area, Phase-8, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
Recently, Council facilitated the organization of an interactive
meet with agri-food industry for identification of key issues
required to be addressed by NABI. The meeting was chaired by Dr
DPS Verma of Ohio State University, USA, a renowned Plant
Biotechnologist & Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee on
Secondary Agriculture constituted by Planning Commission and Dr.
Rakesh Tuli, Executive Director, NABI. The key projects of
immediate relevance that emerged out of this interactive meet
included Identification of crop varieties / quality planting
material suitable for requirements of processing industry
(especially that of tomato, potato, banana, baby corn and guava);
Virus indexing in vegetables and fruits; Cost effective conversion
of agri-biomass especial paddy straw to industrial chemicals &
energy and Production of novel value added products from existing
agri raw materials.
1.3
Participation in India international Trade Fair 2009 organised by
India Trade Promotion Organisation.
The
Council participated in 29th India International Trade Fair 2009
(IITF-2009) held at Pragati Maidan from 14-27 November, 2009. IITF
is organized every year by India Trade Promotion Organisation and
has been recognized as one of the largest trade fair in this part of
the world. The theme of this year’s trade fair was “Exports of
Services”. Punjab Small Industries & Export Corporation coordinated
State’s participation in the event. The Council showcased its
activities / services having potential for export / international
collaborations. These included mega projects of Biotechnology and
Nanotechnology coming up in Knowledge City, Mohali to highlight
Punjab as leading destination for investments in these sectors,
value added products from medicinal & aromatic plants especially
amla and lemon grass through the processing and extraction units set
up by the Council at Talwara, Neem based bio-pesticide, preparation
of handicrafts from water hyacinth being promoted by the Council,
consultancy for pollution control in industry and intellectual
property facilitation services being provided by the Council.
Contact
Persons:
Dr. J.K. Arora,
jkarora20@rediffmail.com
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