India is emerging as destination for biotech development requirement of global companies. Economic Times, 23rd Nov., 2008.
Is that true ? Whats happening to biotech industry at the global level especially in the troubled economy . News is that US biotech industry sector is suffering. Small and medium units are on run away money while large ones are holding their resources with no new recruitment.
How is Indian Biotech industry performing these days ? Biotech sector in India was growing at the speed of 35% for the last five years. Growth slumped to 20% in the fiscal year 2007-2008 and 2009. The sector is expected to touch US$ 5.00 billion mark by 2010.
This prediction could stand true as DBT, Govt of India has taken specific steps to promote this sector. Such as providing angel finance through various schemes, launch of biotech parks in various parts of the country and providing single window systems for govt clearances. The Patenting scenario has also been improving in the country. This naturally will boost the biotech sectors growth.
The most important need of the biotech sector is appropriately trained manpower. Is it available in the country?. The wave of biotech has created spawn of the institutions imparting biotech education but with inadequate facilities. Large number of the graduates (B.Sc. and B.Tech) are being pushed in to market. The training skills imparted to them are so week that they do not find right job opportunities.
There is also no correspondence between the number of biotech graduates qualifying to the number of seats available to join the post graduate programs in biotechnology. There are very few institutions in the country that have adequate facilities to conduct the biotech programs.
This forum will discuss the current issues in biotechnology at education, research and management fronts. Forum also will post information on select post graduate programs in biotechnology.
Comments and Suggestions are most welcome.
