editor’s note
Seems India’s biotech sector will have
to climb not jump to its next level…
There used to be a time when the entrepreneurs in this space were lauded as ‘daredevils’
because they had to risk almost everything with no support at all. While the officials they would
meet at local level for building basic infrastructure, would laugh at their ideas considering them
rubbish, there was no guarantee that their product would ever see the light of day.
Old timers admit that drastic improvements are there but also regret that the country woke up late
on the basics required for the industry. “While
we were good at having right people at right
time in right place for running biotechnology
department, but we forgot that it was not
merely for academic purpose but to oversee
the foundation of an industry,” an industry
veteran with three and half decades of
experience told me once during discussions.
Currently the Indian government’s policy think
tank, Niti Aayog, has listed biotechnology as
one of the key ingredient in its ‘Transforming
India’ initiative. The way in which it has been
accorded importance by the previous and
present government in last 5 years, has put
the sector on accelerator. The creation of
BIRAC, frequent interactions, more open and
accessible system surely are encouraging. However, there are consistent hiccups that can’t be
overlooked. The major factors that have been behind the stagnant growth of the sector include
lack of industry friendly attitude, taxes, infrastructure and most important, the regulatory pin
pricks. The government has to be decisive on last one. Otherwise, the sector will grow but not at
the pace most of us are aiming at.
In the above context, the October edition of BioVoice features detailed cover story on relevance of
biotechnology sector in India. Besides an analysis on the preparation for next big leap in the
biotech sector, the key learnings on how Israel created a strong empire of startups that produce
high end technology and products too is a must read.
As the year 2016 inches closer to its exit, we at BioVoice are preparing for a much required
initiative on education sector to get direct feedback from the ground zero. Keep following our
online news portal and social media handles for more.
Appreciate your continuous support. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.
Happy reading!
RAHUL KOUL
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
07