BIO- TECHNOLOGY PARKS (BTP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.       Introduction

2.       Setting  up a BTP

3.       Entitlements of a BTP

4.       Department of Biotechnology

5.       References to  BTPs  in India

6.       State policies

 

1.       INTRODUCTION

Biotechnology is a fast emerging sector and is expected to play a key role in the new economy. India has many comparative advantages in terms of knowledge, skills, R&D facilities and costs in the sector. The institutional infrastructure in the country provides the basic foundation for these strengths to translate into business opportunities.

Biotechnology in India can be divided into three broad areas –Human and animal health care, agricultural, and Industrial.

The core competence of Indian biotech industry exists in:

• Handling fermentation-based products,

§         Handling of labile fermentation-based compounds efficiently in downstream processing methods,

§         Use of plant and animal parts for extracting value added products of high purity,

§         Use of cell/microbial culture techniques,

§         Plant breeding techniques,

§         Plant cell/tissue culture, etc.

India has an edge over other countries to set up viable and competitive biotech enterprises and the areas of core competence include :

• Capacity in bioprocess engineering;
• Skills in gene manipulation of microbes and animal cells;

§         Capacity in downstream processing and isolation methods;

• Skills in extraction and isolation of plants and animal products;
• Competence in recombinant DNA technology of plants and animals;
• Excellence in traditional and molecular marker assisted breeding of plants and animals;
• Infrastructure in fabricating bio-reactors and processing equipment.

 The Biotech Market success Story

• Development and Production of indigenous recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine by a number of companies
• World Patents for a solid state fermentation called plafactor; US patents for F-virosome, Drug delivery system for gene therapy; US and European patents for refamicine shuttle vectors in Ecoli; US patent in the production of hydrophilic nanoparticle for drug delivery system, etc.
• Production of indigenous HIV I&II Detection rapid Test Kit using naked eye visible agglutination of the whole blood and a confirmatory Western Blot Test Kit utilizing Indian strain; development of various other indigenous diagnostic kits and transfer to Industry.
• Introduction of transgenic Bt cotton and successful trial under contained conditions of a number of vegetable, horticulture and crop transgenics.
• Development of a number of indigenous rDNA products to be launched shortly like human insulin, growth hormone, G-CSF, Interferons (alpha 2a &2b), Erythropoetin etc.
• Initiatives for the establishment of various biotechnology parks in different States of the country, apart from establishment of biotechnology incubators, pilot plant facilities, etc. for the small entrepreneurs.

Bio technology encompasses any technique, which uses living organisms or parts thereof to make or modify products, improve plant or animal productivity or to develop micro organisms for specific use.

A Biotech Company means and includes a company engaged in any of the following activities: 

·         Research and Development and/or manufacture of products or processes, which use or are derived by using specific living systems (plants, animals and microbes or parts thereof) and or enzymes/ biocatalysts- derived there from.

·         Genetic engineering or cell culture or microbiology or biochemistry.

·         Bio-informatics.

BTP means Biotechnology Park  as notified by Director General of Foreign Trade on the recommendation of the Department of Biotechnology ( Ministry of Science and Technology)

 

2.       SETTING UP A BTP

1)   Bio Technology Park (BTP) can be set up by the

·         Central Government,

·         State Government,

·         Public or Private Sector Undertakings or

·          Any combination thereof.

2)   Application for setting up of BTP shall be submitted to the Department of Bio Technology and such applications which meet the guidelines prescribed by the Department of Bio Technology will be approved and recommended to the DGFT for notification.

3)   Criteria for automatic approval as under Appendix 14 1B shall be followed

3.       ENTITLEMENTS OF BTP

Under the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09 the Commerce Minister extended export oriented units (EOU) scheme benefits to BTPs in the country.

Under the policy,

1.       100 per cent FDI will be permitted for BTPs through Automatic Route similar to SEZ units.

2.       BTP units will be exempted from payment of Income Tax as per the provisions of Section 10A & 10B of the IT Act.

3.       BTPs will be exempted from industrial licensing for manufacture of items reserved for SSI sector.

4.       They can avail credit from an offshore banking unit on the same terms and conditions as extended to units to SEZ.

5.       The policy states that export proceeds will be realised within 12 months 

6.       BTPs will be allowed to retain 100 per cent of its export earning in the EEFC account.

7.       The units will not be required to furnish bank guarantee at the time of import or going for job work in DTA, where the unit has:

1)   A turnover of Rs one crore and above,

2)   The unit is in existence for at least three years and

3)   Unit having an unblemished track record.

4.       DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

The setting up of a separate Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1986 gave a new impetus to the development of the field of modern biology and biotechnology in India . In more than a decade of its existence, the department has promoted and accelerated the pace of development of biotechnology in the country. Through several R&D projects, demonstrations and creation of infrastructural facilities a clear visible impact of this field has been seen. The department has made significant achievements in the growth and application of biotechnology in the broad areas of agriculture, health care, animal sciences, environment, and industry.

The impact of the biotechnology related developments in agriculture, health care, environment and industry, has already been visible and the efforts are now culminating into products and processes.

A very strong peer reviewing and monitoring mechanism has been developed. There has been close interaction with the State Governments particularly through State S & T Councils for developing biotechnology application projects, demonstration of proven technologies, and training of human resource in States and Union Territories . Programmes with the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab , Jammu & Kashmir, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have been evolved. Biotechnology Application Centres in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have already been started.

A unique feature of the department has been the deep involvement of the scientific community of the country through a number of technical task forces, advisory committees and individual experts in identification, formulation, implementation and monitoring of various programmes and activities.

In India , more than a decade of concerted effort in research and development in identified areas of modern biology and biotechnology have given rich dividends. The proven technologies at the laboratory level have been scaled up and demonstrated in field. Patenting of innovations, technology transfer to industries and close interaction with them have given a new direction to biotechnology research. Initiatives have been taken to promote transgenic research in plants with emphasis on pest and disease resistance, nutritional quality, silk-worm genome analysis, molecular biology of human genetic disorders, brain research, plant genome research, development, validation and commercialisation of diagnostic kits and vaccines for communicable diseases, food biotechnology, biodiversity conservation and bioprospecting, setting up of micropropagation parks and biotechnology based development for SC/ST, rural areas, women and for different States.

Necessary guidelines for transgenic plants, recombinant vaccines and drugs have also been evolved. A strong base of indigenous capabilities has been created. The field of biotechnology both for new innovations and applications would form a major research and commercial endeavor for socio-economic development in the next millennium.

The scheme of providing financial/logistical support for establishment of biotechnology parks, biotechnology incubators, training and pilot projects in  various states and organizations has been designed to help small & medium enterprises and  specially the young entrepreneurs who are not in a position to incur high capital expenditure in the biotech industry but have the capabilities to  develop,  design  and  perfect  new  biotech products  and  processes by utilizing  the biotech incubators and pilot level facilities. The Department received proposals from various states for financial support to setting up of biotechnology incubator/pilot  facilities. 

5.       REFERENCES TO  SOME OF THE BIO TECH PARKS IN INDIA

1)   Andhra Pradesh

a)   Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park Pvt. Ltd.

       http://www.spbiotechpark.in/

      Address: No. A-13, Ground Floor, Street No.3,

      Indian Airlines Colony, Begumpet,

      Secunderabad - 500 003.

      Tel.: +91-40-27900893

      Fax: +91-40-27901428/2009.

b)  Genome Valley- Andhra Pradesh

      http://www.genomevalley.org/

c)  ICICI knowledge park.

      http://www.iciciknowledgepark.com/icicikp/index.asp

2)  Kerala

KINFRA
Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) is a statutory body that facilitates the development of industrial infrastructure. KINFRA is involved in setting up BTP in Kerala.

Address: Kerala Industrial Infrastucture Development Corporation, Kinfra House, TC 31/2312, Sasthamangalam , Thiruvananthapuram – 10

Tel.: +91-471-2726585s
Fax: +91-471-2724773
Website: www.kinfra.com

3)   Gujarat

International Pharma & Biotech Park , Ahmedabad

The Ganesh Housing Corporation Ltd, an ISO 9001-2000 company based in Ahmedabad is developing International Pharma & Biotech Park (IPBP) at the pharma corridor.

Address: Ganesh Housing Corporation Ltd, Ist floor, Samudra Complex, CG Road, Ahmedabad – 380 086
Tel.: +91-79-6562345/6560226/6561350
Fax: +91-79-6421085

4)   Tamil Nadu  

a)  TICEL biopark ltd.

      P. Shanmugasundaram, Managing Director

      Address: Taramani Road , Taramani, Chennai - 600 113
Tel.: +91-44-22542060/61
Fax: +91-44-22542055
http://www.ticelbiopark.com/ 

b)   Women’s Bio tech park

      http://www.biotechpark.com

c)   Mahindra Industrial Park

CEO: BG Menon

Address: Arjay Apex Center , 1st Floor, 24, College Road ,

Chennai - 600 006

Tel.: +91-44-28212893-94

Fax: +91-44-28212895

Website: www.mahindracity.com

5)        Uttar Pradesh

http://www.biotechcitylucknow.org/

CEO: PK Seth
Address: Biotech Park, Near Remote Sensing Application Center Campus, Sector G, Janki Puram, Kursi Road Lucknow - 226 021
Tel.: +91-522–2365050
Fax: +91-522-2365755
Website: www.biotechcitylucknow.org

6)        Maharashtra

International Bio Tech Park

http://www.ibpl.net/home.htm#

Address: TCG Urban Infrastructure Holdings Ltd, 304, Enterprise center, Vile Parle (East), Mumbai – 400 099.
Tel.: +91-22-26172555. Fax: +91-22-56772575

7)   Rajasthan

a)   BioTech Park at Sitapura-Jaipur

b)   Biotech Park at Boranada, Jodhpur

c)   Bio Tech Park at Bhiwadi (Alwar)

Address: RIICO Ltd, Udyog Bhawan,
Tilak Marg, Jaipur – 302 005
Tel.: +91-141-5113225
Fax: +91-141-5104804

8)   Punjab

http://www.punjabbiotechpark.org/

CEO: Gurmeet S Bhatia
Biotech Area: 13 Acre
Address: Association Bhawan, Bay no. 143-144, Industrial phase 7, Mohali – 160 055
Tel.: +91-172-2236576
Fax: +91-172-2236948

9)   Karnataka