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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