The Government of Karnataka will replicate its biotechnology finishing schools in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Odisha.
The Department of IT, Biotechnology and Science and Technology of the Government of Karnataka, at present, runs 12 finishing schools across the State and will help other States to set up such schools, Mr M. N. Vidyashankar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of IT, BT and S&T, told Business Line on the sidelines of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2012.
The schools train biotechnology graduates in skills required for the industry and the first batch of students will be graduation soon, Mr Vidyashankar said, adding that all students of the current batch have been placed in the industry. Meanwhile, the Department is also working on a 50-crore nano park close to Bangalore to support research in nano technology for biotechnology companies and start-ups, Mr Vidyashankar said. “We came out with global bids and have shortlisted two companies — a Bangalore based company and a US-based company — to set up shop at the park and work on a public-private partnership model,” Mr Vidyashankar said.
He added that the Government has allotted 50 acres for the park and will soon increase it to 100 acres. Also, as part of its initiatives to promote the biotechnology and pharma sectors, the Government of Karnataka will soon announce the Karnataka Pharmaceuticals Policy 1.0, Mr Vidyashankar said. The sector, on the first day of the GIM 2012, attracted investments worth Rs 27,000 crore and the Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding with four companies.