Kiran Mazumdar Shaw's interview in Indian Express
Today's Indian Express carries an interview of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director of Biocon, India’s largest Biopharmaceuticals company.
The excerpts:
What’s the value and scope of Biotechnology studies and research in India or are there better prospects abroad?
If India can successfully tackle the gaps in infrastructure and challenges in the policy and funding domains, the country has a huge potential to become the leading global innovation hub for biotech.
Today, the essence of Biotechnology is most prominent in Genetic Research and Drug Designing. However, it is effectively being used for conservation of natural resources and developing newer sources of alternative energy, as well.
Which field of study (Genetic, Agricultural or Industrial) is gaining prominence?
Genetic Engineering has applications in Pharmaceuticals, Agriculture, Industrial Enzymes and Biometrics. Synthetic Biology is gaining great prominence in developing new diagnostics, novel vaccines and drugs and value-added nutritional and food ingredients.
How can India benefit from Biotechnology?
Biotechnology can play a significant role in meeting the economy’s challenges. As a significant stakeholder in India’s biotech journey, I see the following as the critical biotech objectives for India to be achieved by 2025: energy independence through bio-fuels; healthcare for all through vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; zero public defecation through bio-toilets; individual households and community toilets at `5,000 per toilet; zero landfills through bioconversion of solid waste to fuel and fertiliser; eradicate malnutrition through protein and vitamin supplements derived from genetically modified plants and microbial fermentation; two-fold increase in agricultural productivity through Biotechnology to create food surplus; de-pollute all rivers in India through bioremediation and green technologies; make polluting industries ‘green’ through Biotechnology; sewage treatment as a national mission through zero discharge effluent treatment technologies and eradicate vector-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and malaria.
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