US-India Business Council (USIBC) will participate in the 12th edition of Bangalore India Bio, an annual biotech show, next year, said Karnataka's Vision Group of Biotechnology.
“Since US is the biggest biotech market with a size of $5 billion, we are roping in USIBC to explore business opportunities both in the US and in India. They are expected to bring a sizeable team to participate at the biotech event,” Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Karnataka's Vision Group on Biotechnology said at the launch of Bangalore India Bio 2012.
“The next edition of biotech event has advanced the event to February from traditionally held during mid-June. In addition to USIBC, there will be good global participation and the event will focus on regulatory issues, business ethics as we need to engage public at large as to how business is conducted in India,” she added.
In addition to USIBC and the US' participation, countries like Germany, France, the UK, Holland, Spain, Italy, Korea, Canada, Mexico, Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore have also shown interest.
Karnataka, in particular, and India, in general, have entrenched itself as a major hub for biotech innovations and collaborations. “Keeping this in mind we plan to focus on the theme ‘India the emerging bio economy'. At the event we expect to connect with global and domestic life-sciences industry, scientific community, policy makers and regulators and several other Indian biotech States,” Ms Shaw said.
Investing in Bio-Ventures
Investing in biotech ventures has been a challenge.
Ms Shaw said, “Bankers, investors and funds need to understand the business and invest early for good handsome gains. But they do wait and watch till a venture attains critical mass to jump into the bandwagon.”
“Investing in mature business is one and investing in innovative venture at nascent stage is another. Finally it is the ones who bet early get rich dividends,” she added. In biotech-led healthcare, a few companies in the country have made a mark. Thanks to a few funds and investors, India has become a vaccine hub. “There are many innovative ventures working to take advantage of spiralling healthcare cost, unmet medical needs (new drugs), agriculture biotech to handle food security, eco-sustainability and bio-energy, it is time the investors take advantage of this and bet on entrepreneurs,” said Ms Shaw.