With a focus on scaling up the biotechnology and biopharma sectors, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is preparing a strategy paper II.
Speaking at the Bangalore India Bio 2012, Dr M.K. Bhan, Secretary, Department of IT/BT and Science and Technology, said, “The main focus of the strategy paper is to provide enabling infrastructure and scale to bio-ventures. It will also address the issue of attracting global players and to creating more jobs.”
“The paper is likely to be out in the last week of May or first week of June. The other focus areas identified are engaging private sectors and regulatory issues. The paper will also address the issue of attracting Indian talent from abroad, to build a good scientific base,” he added.
Talking on the lack of regulatory issues hurting the biotech sector, Dr Bhan said, “At present there is only one set of rules for both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. We are aware of it and will be addressed differently.”
“The biotech industry is more complex and we cannot apply the existing regulations of pharmaceuticals to them. The regulations for biotech should have been in place. I hope the long pending National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (NBRAI) Bill, which is before Parliament, will address it,” he said.
The country is also witnessing development of cheap vaccines. However, cheap cancer drug or treatment is still far away and public health funding cannot afford to fund research.
“Public funding does not or cannot afford cancer research and private sector participation will be inevitable,” he said.
Quality of research
Talking about quality of research, Dr Bhan said, “We need to change the institutional system in our country's scientific research as currently 80 per cent of scientific investment made by the Government is not creating Intellectual Property, while only 20 per cent of the investment, like IITs and few other institutes, are creating 80 per cent of the Intellectual Property.”
Dr Bhan said, “Currently, the top-level scientific base is thin in major scientific institutions, but this will change in the next 10 years.”
The Government is making efforts to lure Indian talent settled abroad to return to man the scientific bodies.
“So far through various scholarships and fellowships, we have attracted 300 scholars, while 800 researchers trained abroad have been roped in through various scientific grants,” Dr Bhan said.