BT Parks - South

Karnataka: Makes slow progress

Karnataka has become a preferred zone for foreign investments which spells good news for the State's Biotech scenario

Bangalore Helix

The biotechnology sector in Karnataka has been consistently growing and the state has become a preferred location for foreign investment. Bangalore Helix, the biotech cluster being planned by the Karnataka government is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by October this year. The first phase of Bangalore Helix has almost been completed and the second phase, which would cost USD100 million (Rs. 400 crore), would be completed in another two years time, under a public-private partnership initiative.

Helix would support biotech units with common infrastructure. It would comprise eight biotech incubators, covering a total area of 10,000 square feet. Karnataka already houses more than 160 biotech companies. Helix, when completed, will have 7,00,000 sq ft of built area to accommodate biotech companies, research entities, start-ups with an incubation centre and common facility, besides the Institute of Bioinformatics & Applied Biotechnology, and the Centre for Human Genomics. It is proposed that the park be developed and managed by a joint sector company by KBITS and a private developer. Among other initiatives, a stem cell incubation centre would also be set up in the city which would be the first of its kind in the country.