Agilent to set up life science centre in B'lore

Agilent Technologies plans to invest $35 million in India for expanding the existing capabilities and also for setting up a Life Science Centre in Bangalore over the next two years.

The 'Agilent Life Science Centre' will have a multi-disciplinary team for advanced technology focusing on chemical analysis, molecular biology and software for creating novel and complex scientific applications on its bio-analytical instrument and software platforms.

"The initial focus will be on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Over time, the centre will extend R&D capabilities to other platforms like microfluidics, gas chromatography and microarrays. It will collaborate with scientists in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to generate products and solutions to support activities in drug discovery, clinical trials, pharma manufacturing, food testing and forensics," Agilent President (Life Sciences & Chemical Analysis) Chris van Ingen said.

Agilent has similar centres -- two each in US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The Bangalore centre will be the seventh one for Agilent.

"It will be integrated into our global R&D network. With its significant base for high-end R&D pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors, India represents growth opportunity for Agilent," he added.

According to Ingen, India is among the top 10 markets for Agilent in terms of revenue generation.

"With the pharmaceutical sector witnessing a strong growth, we expect India to climb the ladder fast. Over the next five years, we expect a business worth $200 million from India," he said.

Agilent, which started its India operations in 1999, is engaged in communications and electronics employing close to 1,300 professionals.

The company expects to see its growth in India being driven by pharmaceutical quality analysis and, food and beverage industry.

"Over the next two years, the headcount will touch 2,000, including a few hundred engineers for the Life Science Centre in Bangalore," Agilent Technologies India Country Manager Venkatesh Velluri said.