Bio-Active States

India’s various states are vying with each other to grab a slice of the growing biotechnology pie. Particularly the 
states, which were slow to garner a share of the Information Technology (IT), don’t want to be left behind 
in the biotech race.

Even here, the IT powerhouses of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have been first off the block with well defined state-level Biotechnology policies. Other states, such as Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, West Bengal, etc., have emphasized the importance of biotechnology in their overall industrial policies. Madhya Pradesh in currently drafting a biotechnology policy.

BioSpectrum presents here highlights of some of the Biotechnology Policies of various state governments.


Karnataka:
The Chief Minister, SM Krishna in his budget speech for the year 2000-01 has announced the Millennium Biotech Policy. The government has already taken an initiative by setting up a Vision Group on Biotechnology. The objectives of the policy include: 

· To spread awareness about the investment opportunities in biotechnology, genomics, bioinformatics, biofuels, contract research, etc., to the entrepreneurial community

· To outline a set of incentives and concessions for the biotechnology industry to attract investments to the state

Maharashtra:

The state’s separate biotechnology policy, unveiled in 2001, aims to create two apex institutions—the Maharashtra Biotechnology Board and the Maharashtra Biotechnology Commission.

These two organizations will be backed by a Biotechnology Development Fund with a seed capital of Rs 50 crore.
The Chief Minister himself will preside over the Biotechnology Board to ensure

· proper and timely implementation of biotechnology policies

· ensure biotechnology industry will retain its competitive edge at all times

· provide one percent of the State Plan funds of various departments, which will be beneficiaries of the Biotechnology Revolution.

In addition, the state will relax several restrictive labor and other rules and regulations for biotechnology companies
Biotechnology companies will be exempt from statutory power cuts, allow two times the normal floor space index (FSI), set up Knowledge Processing Zones, extend all incentives offered to IT companies to Biotech companies.
Maharashtra will also observe 14 November as Biotechnology Day to carry the message of ‘life care tool’ of twenty-first century to the people.

Tamil Nadu:

Unveiled by the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, in 2000, Tamil Nadu was the first state in the country to have its biotechnology policy. 
The policy wants the state to pursue business opportunities in the four areas of medical/human and animal health care, agriculture (food), environment and industrial products.
The policy proposes to 

· establish Bio Valleys ( biotechnology entrepreneurship zones)

· a Rs 40 crore biotech incubation park in Chennai

· continue the state’s support to the country’s first Women’s Biotech Park in south Chennai

Andhra Pradesh:

The separate Biotechnology Policy of Andhra Pradesh aims to make it a 

‘premier biotech state’ and 

· provide a single window clearance to all biotechnology projects

· extend all benefits given to IT companies to biotech ventures.Establish ‘biotechnology corridors’ for agriculture, horticulture, marine products, animal husbandry, forestry and environmental products in different parts of the state.

· Levy a nominal one percent sales tax on all biotech products

· Remove location specifications for biotech startups

· Follow liberal labor rules 

· Provide financial grants to set up biotech departments in all state universities

Chhattisgarh:

Chief Minister Ajit Jogi wants to make this new state the ‘Genome State’. 
Major activities planned are to

· organize a state wide Geographical Information System(GIS) to help various communities identify the source of their bio wealth and its beneficial effects

· draw up a Biotech Development Plan 

· leverage synergies and combine the efforts of biotechnology, information technology and higher education resources in the state

Kerala:

The God’s own country is contemplating a separate Biotechnology Policy. Meanwhile, as part of its new industrial policy, Kerala wants to develop the state as a ‘Global Center for Excellence’ in biotechnology by providing up-to-date education and training to create a large pool of multi-skilled, technically competent manpower and organizations.
It also plans to establish an internationally competitive business infrastructure and environment for biotech companies.
Kerala also plans to create appropriate pro-business, pro-entrepreneur legal, regulatory and commercial frameworks to facilitate the growth of biotechnology.
The state has identified four areas: industrial process biotechnology, agricultural applications, bioinformatics and degradable plastics and others related products.

Meghalaya:

This northeastern state aims to encourage biotechnology to ensure commercial and scientific exploitation of its wealth in orchids and floriculture, aromatics plants and spices, medicinal plants for drugs and pharmaceutical value.

Uttaranchal:

The tiny Himalayan state has signed a memorandum of understanding with Rabo India Finance Company, the Infrastructure Development Finance Company, and G B Pant University to forge a strategic cooperation in food and agriculture sectors of biotechnology. The state also plans to set up an Institute of Biotechnology.

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