Pune: Emerging biotech center in India

[Ravi Karandeekar]

After Hyderabad, Pune is rapidly emerging as the next biotech center
in India. Even though the country presently holds a minimal market
share of 2 per cent of the global biotech market, it has immense
potential to develop as a key player by 2010 and is expected to
generate $5 billion revenues, creating employment for a million by
2010

"So far Pune has been perceived as the hub for IT and auto industry
but we have seen tremendous increase in response from job seekers in
the Biotech and pharmacy sector. We have received about 1522 numbers
of resumes for Biotech and medical research and about 633 numbers for
Pharmaceutical and pharmacy job postings in the last three months",
says Mr. Saurabh Shroff, Head Marketing, myjobsinPune.com

"In the last few months the number of biotech professionals posting
resumes at myjobsinpiune.com has increased by roughly 30 percent", Mr.
Shroff added further. With biotechnology industry registering over 35
percent growth in the last few years, this industry is seen as one of
the key attributes that will contribute to the socio-economic growth
of the state.

Companies like Emcure pharmaceuticals, Shreya Biotech and Lupin have
set up their biotech parks and R&D centers of about 14 acres, 15 acres
and 19 acres of area respectively in Pune. Also Mumbai based Hikal
Ltd. has invested about Rs. 30 crores in its facility at the Pune
Biotech Park. Apart from this MIDC & The Chatterjee Group (TCG) in a
joint venture has developed, promoted and marketed the International
Hinjewadi Biotech Park, in Pune.

The revenue from the biotech industry has been increasing steadily.
The revenue has gone up to Rs 8541 crore during 2006-07 from Rs 4745
crore during 2004-05. The allocation for Biotechnology had been hiked
to Rs 6500 crore for the eleventh plan period from Rs 621 crore during
the ninth plan.

The biotechnology is a fast emerging sector and will play a key role
in the new economy. Pune is well known for its established IT sector
and with more and more pharma companies targeting Pune as their base
for biotech parks.

According to an industry report, the city has gained attention from
the government and the industry in attempt to provide conducive
environment to foster biotech development. The government is trying to
boost the sector by providing sector-specific promotion policy and
requisite infrastructure in terms of various biotech parks and SEZs
that are coming up in these cities.
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