The Biotech Hub of India

The combination of the state's vision and strategic direction along with the industry's entrepreneurial enthusiasm is fuelling Andhra Pradesh's dream of making Hyderabad as India's Genome Valley.

Biotechnology is one of the thrust areas for growth, identified for rapid development in Andhra Pradesh. The state is naturally endowed with one of the richest biodiversities and enjoys a dominant position in pharmaceuticals, medical sciences and healthcare. The state capital Hyderabad is home to several Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in biotech research and training. Building on an established foundation of world class infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, healthcare and education, the Government of Andhra Pradesh initiated India's first biotech cluster in Hyderabad, the Genome Valley, setting the stage for biotech innovation and economic growth.

The Genome Valley is India's first state-of-the-art biotech cluster providing world-class infrastructure to over 100 biotech companies. Spread over an area of 600 sq.km, it is a natural cluster for biotech research, training, collaboration and manufacturing activities with some of India's leading biotech institutions and companies located here. The Genome Valley encompasses established biotech parks – the Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park and ICICI Knowledge Park.

Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park

The Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park houses a mix of companies involved in high-end research in biotechnology and nanotechnology, manufacturers of biopharmaceuticals and molecular diagnostic kits, apart from contract research organizations (CROs). Already about 17 companies have set up their units at the park making an investment of about Rs 400 crore. The park has roped in many global majors to set up their first India-based R&D units. The SP Biotech Park has been given EOU status and it is expecting to get the status of "Special Economic Zone", which will bring in abundant benefits to the park.

About 160 acres of land constitutes the second phase of the park and developmental activities are already underway. It is expected to be completed by mid 2006. Meanwhile, it has approached the state government for an additional land of 120 acres to commence the third phase of activities. The SP Biotech Park also plans to build facilities to be used as wet laboratories. The park has already signed agreements with Cushman Weikfield, Albany, and another Boston-based company for setting up their wet lab facilities. Each lab is a module of 2,000 sft to be built on a 24,000 sft area. Besides, a modern township for residents of the Genome Valley is also being developed.

The biotech park has established alliances with research laboratories and technology parks in India and abroad. This will help the units in the park in networking, technology transfers, formation of joint ventures etc. Some of the institutions with which the park has tie-ups include the Research Triangle Park, USA, Super Computing Centre, USA, Biotechnology International LLC, USA, Technologiepark Heidelberg, Germany, Biotechnologiepark Luckenwalde, Germany, Sun Micro Systems for Center of Excellence, Hyderabad.

ICICI Knowledge Park

Launched by ICICI Bank Ltd in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the ICICI Knowledge park is committed to facilitating business-driven research and development. The park is spread over 200 acres of campus at Turkapally near Hyderabad. The project is being developed in phases. With full occupancy in the first two phases, the ICICI Knowledge Park is in the process of developing the third phase with an investment of Rs 7 crore to create 22,000 sft infrastructure to accommodate 13 laboratories. Already about Rs 42 crore has been invested in setting up the first two phases of the park.

As many as 13 companies are operating from this park that offers land plots of varying dimensions to build research centers and pilot plants as per specific requirements of the resident companies. While the park encourages research and development in all knowledge intensive fields, the current focus of the park is in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals technology, specialty chemicals, new materials, information technology and telecommunications. The park offers fully air-conditioned modular laboratory units with standard facilities and services for establishing state-of-the-art research centers for conducting advanced scientific research.