Biotechnology Sector in India
INTRODUCTION
Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make useful products, or any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms or derivatives to make or modify products or processes for specific use and such medicine derived from living organisms is considered a biotech therapy, or biologic .Industrial biotechnology applies the techniques of modern molecular biology to improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impacts of industrial processes like textile, paper and pulp, and chemical manufacturing. Environmental biotechnology is the use in waste treatment and pollution prevention.
The Indian biotechnology sector is one of the fastest growing knowledge-based sectors in India and is expected to play a key role in shaping India's rapidly developing economy. With numerous comparative advantages in terms of research and development (R&D) facilities, knowledge, skills, and cost effectiveness, the biotechnology industry in India has immense potential to emerge as a global key player.
India has many assets in its strong pool of scientists and engineers, vast institutional network, and cost effective manufacturing. There are over a hundred national research laboratories employing thousands of scientists. There are more than 300 college level educational and training institutes across the country offering degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bio-informatics and the biological sciences, producing nearly 500,000 students on an annual basis.
In fact, India has been ranked among the top 12 biotech destinations worldwide and third largest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Key segments in the Indian biotechnology industries are Bio-pharma, Bio-services, Bio-agri, Bio-industrial and Bio-informatics.
Biotechnology products are drugs, therapies, vaccines, and medical diagnostic tests. It is also used to produce genetically modified (GM) plants and crops; DNA fingerprinting; environmental biotech products that aid in the clean-up of hazardous waste; and industrial biotech applications that help numerous sectors produce less waste and use less energy and water. Some other biotechnology products are Antibioticssuch as Beta lactum antibiotics (like Natural Penicillin, Cephalolsporins,
Semi synthetic penicillin’s, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Clavamo etc.), Fermented beverages (cider, wine Perry, mead), Fermented food (Cheese, Yoghurt, Kefir), Recombinant proteins, Regulators of biotechnology products, Therapeutic antibodiesetc
USES AND APPLICATION Of BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCT
Main application of Biotechnology product is to hinder growth of food spoilage micro organism. Biotechnology products have made detection and to diagnose illness easier.
Biotechnology has applications in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, non food (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, bio fuels), and environmental uses. Biogas residue generated from anaerobic degradation has been used as bio fertilizer because of its macro and micro nutrients, and high ammonia content. Biosensors are the device that detects and transmit the biological response into an electrical signal and the types are calometric biosensor, potentiometric bio sensor, DNA biosensor. Biopharmaceuticals are mostly recombinant proteins (Recombinant protein is a protein whose code is carried by a recombinant DNA)
MARKET SURVEY
Biotechnology sector in India is witnessing exponential growth and plays a pivotal role in the Indian economy. Amongst the various disciplines of Biotechnology, Bio-Agri emerges as the winner recording a growth rate of 37% followed by Bio-Services at 28% and Bio Industrial at 16%. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was set up under the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1986 which gave a new impetus to the development of biotechnology in India. The Indian biotech market has doubled in size. However, its rapid growth is likely to position it as a leading player in the years to come. India already ranks third in Asia-Pacific, after Japan and Korea and among the top 12 globally. Several states in India have taken their own initiatives in terms of defining their own biotech policies to give an impetus to the industry in this sector and to biotechnology in India as a whole. States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh are developing biotech parks.
India provides cost advantages in drug discovery and development and will sustain it competitiveness as compared to other high-cost locations. Bio pharmaceuticals will remain the largest market in biotechnology but other industry segments are likely to experience greater level of growth in the coming years.
