Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has stressed the need to revise the State’s biotechnology policy with the focus on integration of information technology and biotechnology to develop new drugs, diagnostic tools, and environment conservation methods.
Chairing the first meeting of the reconstituted Kerala Biotechnology Board here on Thursday, he said the government was committed to harnessing biotechnology for the socio-economic development of the State. He said efforts were on to attract fresh talent to the biotechnology sector in the State by promoting entrepreneurship and creating an ecosystem for Malayali scientists working abroad to return to their home State.
Mr. Vijayan said the State government would take steps to promote biotechnology-based industries in Kerala. The objective, he added, was to transform the State into one of the top destinations in the sector.
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Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar, Industries Minister A.C. Moideen, Director, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, M. Radhakrishna Pillai, Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Suresh Das, and Adviser, Kerala Biotechnology Commission, G.M. Nair, were among those who attended the meeting.
The board approved a slew of proposals aimed at promoting research and development and entrepreneurial ventures in biotechnology. It resolved to set up a Biotechnology Industry Promotion and Assistance Centre (BIPAC) to provide financial support for industrial research.
It also decided to launch the Chief Minister’s Career Advancement Programme in Biotechnology to promote national and international collaborative research in emerging areas.
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An industry associate programme for faculty/ scientists to work in industry and industrial training for postgraduate students in biotechnology are other major proposals. The project support for industry-linked biotechnology research would be doubled to ₹50 lakh.