K'taka emerges as best state for biotechnology

Karnataka has been awarded as the best state for the growth of the biotechnology industry in India in the Biospectrum state of the year category this year on the back of higher investment flow to the state.

The award instituted by Biospectrum magazine honours the best personalities, companies and products every year.

“Karnataka has an edge over other states in attracting investments due to favourable policy environment in the state. Millennium Biotech Policy II, and support of the industry-academia group are some of the initiatives by the state to drive the growth of the industry,” a press statement said.

Similarly, Bangalore based Biotech company, Biocon has been selected as the best biopharma company in the country. The promoter of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has also won the Biospectrum Leadership award.

“Biocon is back at the top of the BioSpectrum-ABLE ranking as the number one company after conceding that slot to Pune’s Serum Institute for the last four years,” the statement said.

In tune with recognising various companies in this sector, Biospectrum person of the year award had gone to Glenn Saldanha of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Biospectrum entrepreneur of the year award has been awarded to Rashmi Barbhaiya of Advinus Therapeutics.

The award committee has selected Cry1c gene of Metahelix Life Sciences in the best product category.

“Cry1c gene from Metahelix Life Sciences received the approval from GEAC for its use in two Bt cotton hyb-rids, MH5125 Bt and MH5174 Bt, in June 2009. This first commercial gene develo-ped solely by a private Indian company offers the cotton plant double protec-tion against two pests - bollworms and spodoptera,” the release added.

Recently, Rallis India has bought majority stake in Metahelix Life Sciences for around Rs 100 crore.

Biospectrum also honoured Obaid Siddiqi, the founder director of National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore with the Life Time Achievement Award 2010 for his pioneering work in the fields of microbial genetics and neurogenetics.

“Among others, Dr Siddiqi’s early research on DNA transfer and recombination in bacteria and his work on suppression of ‘nonsense’ mutation in E.coli are some breakthrough contributions,” the release said.

Meantime, Nuziveedu Seeds has been awarded as the best Bioagri company along with Novozymes South Asia as the best bioindustrial company for this year.