Experts have favoured the Kerala Biotechnology Commission (KBC) setting up an Industry Incubation Centre to facilitate the establishment of biotech industries in the State.
This is one of the thrust areas of action recommended by a colloquium on industry and R&D for biotech development in Kerala organised held earlier this year, proceedings of which have been made available to Business Line .
PILOT PRODUCTION
Industrially relevant biotech process or programmes can be tested for feasibility through establishing small production units in the incubation centre facility.
Pilot-scale production of the product, quality analysis as well as cost effectiveness could be ascertained from the facility. These recommendations were made by a panel discussion chaired by Dr A. Mohandas, Professor Emeritus, Cochin University for Science and Technology, and Mr P. Padmesh of the Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram.
The incubation centre also shall facilitate single window clearance as well as act as liaison between financial institutions for support to the entrepreneurs.
PRODUCT DATABASE
A database on products developed by researchers of the State shall be prepared by the centre.
The experts also were of the view that KBC may prioritise research areas of regional importance for purposes of funding by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
It shall also inform the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, of the thrust areas of research identified by the KBC or the State Government.
These could range from effective utilisation of aquatic weeds, development of biofertilisers, organised cultivation of medicinal plants to value added products, the experts said.
Industry partnership also can be attracted for these programmes. The thrust areas are to be reviewed once in two years and a fresh list prepared.
In the area of marine biotechnology, preparing an inventory of marine biodiversity is essential, which should be accompanied by chemical characterisation of bioactive compounds, pharmacological evaluation, strategies for conservation and sustainable utilisation of the marine bioresources/components having industrial prospects.
Dr Mohan Das also expressed the need for a directory of colleges and universities offering graduate and post-graduate programmes in biotechnology in the State.
IMPORT OF MATERIAL
Separately, the experts observed that as of now, the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, is the only authorised institution in South India to import quality planting materials of banana, orchids and anthuriums from Southeast Asia, Israel and EU for micro propagation.
The small scale entrepreneurs find this inconvenient as it causes inordinate delay in getting quality planting materials on time.