and patented. At the
same time, In India,
doctors are still using
metal screw and the
children using these
have to be operated
upon to remove that
later. It is shocking
that such technology
benefits are not
accessed by masses.
The local innovations
and subsidies for mass
applications could
help in overcoming the
shortages. If subsidies
can happen in case of
cancer drugs why not
surgical products. a big opportunity
with new dynamic
set of workforce
that is undergoing
development
currently. The
researchers and new
age entreprenurs have
lot of opportunities
based on low cost
model as compared to
other countries. New
incubator spaces and
technical support by
organizations such as
BIRAC is giving them
confidence. I am pretty
optimistic about the
biotech sector in India.
How do you
view the biotech
sector in India
as an outsider?
How do you look
at the strengths
and challenges
of Indian biotech
system? I think the strength
of Indian biotech
ecosystem is the
presence of highly
intellectual and skilled
researchers. The big
challenge is to retain
them as the lack
of opportunities is
driving them out of the
country. For example,
the IIT-Mumbai’s 50
percent of students are
going abroad. I don’t
know if the figures
are old or the things
The biotech sector in
India has certainly
witnessed the
transformation. The
perception here is
that the sector is
are changing but the
opportunities that are
now being created are
becoming rife. One
more strength is the
cost of developing
the product which
is much lower here
as compared to
manufacturing in the
Europe or US.
Among the challenges
is the lack of funding
to the research
initiatives. While it is
improving now but
needs more attention.
Also, the translational
part of the product
development is still
a challenge. The
institutions don’t have
the enough expertise
on intellectual
property rights. The
BIRAC is doing its bit
on these fronts but will
take time to reach the
needed levels.
The companies
are doing the sub
contracting for the
tests developments of
bigger global players.
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