Current Programmes

1. Punjab – The Biotech Destination : Current endeavours 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.

Setting up of Biotechnology Cluster & National Institute of Nanotechnology in Knowledge City, Mohali.

PSCST has been making efforts since 1995 to bring in a world class centre / institute of biotechnology in Punjab.  The Council had also mooted the proposal for setting up of National Institute of Nanotechnology in Punjab. These efforts have finally borne fruit. Government of India has agreed to establish a Biotechnology Cluster as well as a National Institute of Nanotechnology (NINT) in Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali.  The Biotechnology Division of the Council is facilitating setting up of these institutes. The proposal for setting up of Biotechnology Cluster was developed and submitted to Planning Commission after series of meetings of expert groups invited by DBT, GOI from India and Canada.  The proposal for setting up of NINT at a total cost of Rs.150 crore was submitted by Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.  The institute would focus on pushing the frontiers of Nanotechnology in the areas of agriculture, agri-food & health systems through R&D and manpower development.

The Biotechnology cluster would comprise National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute & a Bio-Processing Unit to be set up by DBT at a total cost of Rs.380 crores and a Biotechnology Park to promote biotech industry.   The salient features of these components of the cluster are as below:

• National Agri-Food Biotechnology institute (NABI)

The institute will focus on agriculture and agro-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.

• Bio Processing Unit  (BPU)

As a real time interface facility is required between the laboratory scale testing and large scale manufacturing, the Bio Processing Unit has been designed to serve as an incubator for start-ups.   It will not only facilitate the scale-up and process optimization of new technologies developed by NABI or acquired through in licensing from other sources within India and abroad but would also provide services, consultancies and support to the start up companies.  It is envisaged  to have the requisite process capacity to support these start-ups for the initial one or two years till they get the feel of the market and can attain in-house capacity for setting up of larger units.

• Biotechnology Park

DBT had appointed M/s Ernst & Young as consultants for feasibility study and preparation of business plan as well as identifying the investor for development of park on 80 acres of land to be provided by State Govt.  in Knowledge City at Mohali. Biotechnology Park would comprise innovation business centre, utilities, facilities and service centre to promote biotech industry in the state.  M/s Ernst & Young have submitted their report to DBT. 

 The Planning Commission constituted a High-powered Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of Member Secretary, Planning Commission to coordinate and synergize the setting up of these institutes. The committee had also constituted a sub-committee which interacted with the state government officers and captains of the industry in Punjab.  The projects were thus approved in principle by the Planning Commission. 

Further, GMADA has acquired land measuring 381.38 acres at a cost of Rs.274.35 crores for development of Knowledge City in Sector 81, Mohali.  The State Govt. has finalized the layout of Knowledge City.  Besides NABI, Bio Processing Unit, Biotechnology Park and National Institute of Nanotechnology, the Knowledge City would also house Indian Institute of Science Education & Research as well as a Premier Institute of Management to be set up in public-private partnership. 

2.       Punjab Biotechnology Incubator

Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI), a major spin-off of the Biotechnology Division of PSCST, is a project of immense socio-economic relevance. The setting up of PBTI has been sanctioned by GOI and GOP at a total cost of Rs.10.97 crore.  A separate society has been registered for operationalization of the project.  To begin with, Quality testing laboratories for qualitative & quantitative analysis of agri-produce and products have been set up under PBTI at SAS Nagar, Mohali.  The laboratories are equipped with following hi-end sophisticated  equipments.    

                                                                                                                                                               Chromatography based equipment

• Gas Chromatograph (GC-ECD, FID, NPD)
• Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS)
• High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC)

Spectroscopy based equipment

• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS – Flame, Furnace)

• UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
• FT – Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR)
• Direct Reading Spectrophotometer

Electro Analytical Equipment

• Automatic Biochemistry Analyzer

• Karl Fischer Apparatus
• pH-Conductivity Meter

Cereal Testing Equipment

• Falling Number Apparatus

• Alveo Consistograph
• Glutomatic System
• Texture Analyzer
• Starch Damage Analyzer

Other Testing Equipment

• PCR

• Gel Electrophoreses & Documentation System
• ELISA Reaer
• Moisture Balance
• TIntometer
• Viscometer, etc.

            The PBTI laboratories have developed the infrastructure and expertise to carry out analysis for physical & rheological parameters, pesticide, antimicrobial and drug residues, metal toxicity, microbial pathogens, chemical contaminants, mycotoxins, food additives, adulterants, elemental analysis, nutritional facts, sensory parameters etc.

PBTI has been recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt. of India.  Further, it has initiated the process for accreditation of the quality testing and certification facilities by NABL. The perspective users of the facility are agri-producers (farmers), food processing industry and exporters of fresh/processed food.   This facility is likely to have the following socio-economic benefits :

• Access to state-of-the-art testing and certification facilities, world class expertise and latest information on quality and food safety aspects
• Qualitative improvement in produce and better economic returns
• Improved employment opportunities and economic growth

A support system to enable the users to compete in the global markets.

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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