Bangalore, in Karnataka is the Biotech capital for India. India houses 380 biotech companies of which a majority of 198 are in Karnataka and 191 in Bangalore alone. Bangalore and Karnataka jointly contribute 27% to the revenue of the sector. The other key clusters include Mumbai and Ahmedabad in the West (Maharashtra and Gujarat respectively), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) in the South and the area in and around New Delhi in the North. The Western belt houses companies that are large pharmaceuticals with a prominent manufacturing and R&D base, who have active interest in pursuing the manufacture of biogenerics. Hyderabad has several vaccine manufacturers and other large biotech companies involved in research. The regions in and around New Delhi house several key research centres and univerisites that are involved in research.
Karnataka –Bangalore Biotechnology, post the ICT success, has emerged as a recent rapidly expanding sector in Bangalore. The city accounts for over 50% of the 380 biotech companies in India. The city has revenue of over $550 for 2008-2009 which is over 20% of the total biotech revenue for the country. Bangalore is the country’s largest cluster, the city boasts of 198 biotech firms. Biocon, the nation’s leading biotech company is headquartered in Bangalore. Some of the key life science companies to look out for in Bangalore include: Advinus Therapeutics, Astra Zeneca, Aurigene Discovery services, Biocon India, Jubilant Biosys, Metahelix Life Sciences, Strand Life Sciences, Strides Arcolab and Xcyton Diagnostics Government of Karnataka is investing Rs. 5,500 crore in Bangalore Helix Biotech park which is spread over 106 acres at the Electronics City, off Hosur Road in Bangalore. Bangalore can boast of good Universities like the Indian Institute of Science, JNCASR, NCBS, University of Agricultural Sciences. ABLE the Trade association for Biotech Industry is headquartered at Bangalore. Bangalore has opportunities in Contract Research Space and lot of potential in the Stem Cell area.
Future for India In September 2007, the Government of India approved the National Biotech Policy that focuses on overcoming lacuna in the sector and enhance synergies across sectors. India has not been able to discover and own too many useful genes to launch programmes. Discovery and innovation are long-term goals for the country, which is focussed in the medium and short term on acquisitions of important genes and collaborations with right internal and international partners. This will boost the research space, also give room to improving the country’s in-licensing capabilities and will help in technology-transfer.
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