Centre will help boost biotech in Karnataka: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister commends Karnataka’s work in biosciences and biotechnology
BENGALURU:
Assuring more Central co-operation for development of biosciences and biotechnology in Karnataka, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre is focused on the interface of science, business and entrepreneurship to better the living standards of the common man.
Addressing stakeholders of the biotechnology industry and start-up leaders as chief guest in an interaction organized by the Department of IT/BT and S&T on Friday, she said the Centre has given priority to creating synergies between various departments which are involved in scientific research.
Noting that biological sciences are the foundation of any scientific achievement, she commended the efforts of Karnataka in creating a suitable ecosystem for biosciences and biotechnology.
Bengaluru is biotech hub: DyCM
Deputy CM Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, who is also Minister for IT/BT and S&T, said Karnataka is not only the IT capital but also the BT capital of India, while Bengaluru is considered the country’s chief biotechnology hub and an innovation centre in the areas of enzymes, biopharma, bioinformatics, plant genetics, genomics and bioprocessing.
Bio-entrepreneurship is pitched to be one of the key drivers of job creation, improved productivity, increased prosperity and a better quality of life, Narayan noted, and added that the focus on biotechnology in the startup ecosystem of Karnataka has sharpened in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government will soon launch Karnataka Innovation Vision 2030 in collaboration with Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), he said.
Tarun Bajaj, Revenue Secretary, GoI, spoke about performance-linked incentives, R&D expenditures and tax-related matters.
Dr Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson, Vision Group for Biotechnology, Prashanth Prakash, Chairman, Vision Group for Start-ups, Dr EV Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T, GS Krishnan, Honorary President, ABLE, Dr PM Murali, President, Business Council, ABLE, and Meena Nagaraj, Director, Dept of IT/BT were present.
FM sees product demos
Earlier in the day, Nirmala Sitharaman visited the Institute of Bioinformatics & Applied Biotechnology and Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre located at the Bangalore Helix Biotech Park in Electronics City, and witnessed demonstrations of various innovative products.
About the Author
