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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