3.         Aims & Objectives of Biotechnology Policy

3.1.      Objectives :

3.1.1.      Conservation of  bio-diversity through mapping and sustainable use of bio-resources.

3.1.2.      To encourage and facilitate introduction of Biotechnology at the grass-root level to strengthen agricultural economy of the state.

3.1.3.      To encourage all agro-based Biotechnological activities for the promotion of village level industries in the state.

3.1.4.      To spread general awareness for optimum utilisation of  Biotechnology in the agriculture sector.

3.1.5.      To support  all employment generating activities in the field of Biotechnology industry.

3.1.6.      To create a "Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology" as a high quality support service to Biotech Industries.

3.1.7.      To create or to act as a catalyst for creating high quality infrastructure for Biotech Industries e.g. Biotechnology parks in different parts of the state.

3.1.8.      To facilitate development of human resources at different levels in the field of Biotechnology.

3.1.9.      To bring potentials of all relevant departments of the State Government under one umbrella of coordination so that Government efforts on Biotechnology can be consolidated. The Government undertakings having potentials in this area shall also be gradually taken into this umbrella.

3.1.10.  To create congenial environment for Biotech Industry through process simplification in the clearance of commercialBbiotechnology projects.

3.1.11.  To attract private investment for perceptible growth in Biotechnological industries.

3.1.12.  To promote the field of Bioinformatics and to address the issues related to IPR protection, Bio-safety, Bio-ethics etc.

3.1.13.  To facilitate the flow of venture capital funds and bank credit to Biotech companies.

3.1.14.  To extend fiscal incentives and concessions to Biotechnology Industry.

3.1.15.  To provide an appropriate institutional framework to achieve the above objectives.

3.1.16.  To formulate document on  vision for the next ten years to fulfil the kernel of the policy.

3.1.17.  To draw an action plan for the next five years to improve the quality of life through appropriate Biotechnology.

3.2.      Mapping of Bio-resources of West Bengal:

3.2.1.      To take major initiatives in inventorisation and mapping of the bioresources within the state.  This will be done within the next five years with the help of the universities, undergraduate colleges, schools, research institutions, NGO's and private companies.

3.2.2.      To identify specific biosphere zones and ensure sustainable exploitation of the bioresources from these regions while maintaining ecological balance and conservation of   biodiversity.

3.2.3.      Molecular characterization and   bio-prospecting of indigenous resources.

3.2.4.      To highlight natural and unique reserves in the mangroves, forests, marine life, fresh water resources and develop them further, using Biotechnology, for maximal benefit.

3.2.5.      To use specialised technology for enhancing sericulture and improving silk and tussar quality through Biotechnology.

3.3              Research & Development in Biotechnology:

            In view of the fact that West Bengal has a good number of R & D institutions with excellent expertise and manpower quality, it is considered worthwhile to concentrate further on the development of R & D facilities in the area of Biotechnology. The effort shall consist of :-

3.3.1.      Setting up of new R & D facilities in the universities for Biotech research and development.

3.3.2.      Encouraging institutions and universities to take up contract research in field of Biotechnology on behalf of private and public sector companies.

3.3.3.      Providing requisite infrastructure and support services for private sector companies to take up contract research.

3.3.4.      Creating conditions for furtherance of collaborative research with internationally reputed    R & D organisations

3.4       Development of Infrastructure:

            In order to enhance the socially relevant Biotech activities, the Government of West Bengal will be focussed on the development of adequate infrastructure within the state. In the process, the Government will act :

3.4.1.      To develop selected high quality infrastructure through institution of Biotech Park, Agritech Park, Ecology Park, Bioinformatics Park in different regions of the state. Type and quality of the infrastructure will be chosen considering different agro-climatic, agro-economic and other socio-economic parameters specific for a region.

3.4.2.      To ensure better coordination between different R&D organisations working in the area of  Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.

3.4.3.      To encourage organisations involved in entrepreneurship development programmes to enter partnerships with private companies for manufacture, marketing and transfer of technology so that the products of Biotechnology research can be brought to the common man.

3.4.4.      To create an environment for growth of Biotech Industry by opening up the locked resources in the universities and research institutions, through entrepreneurship development programme.

3.4.5.      To set up service centres either by the government or in partnership with business groups for diagnosis of diseases by sophisticated methods.

3.4.6.      To implement the fruits of Biotechnological development in the health sector by promoting interaction between medical professionals and scientists in allied fields.

3.4.7.      To set up a core facility for Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics which may be used by research and industry organizations on  payment of fees.

3.4.8.      To create infrastructure support for the implementation of grass-root level rural Biotechnology programmes at the district level highlighting the needs of agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, waste management, biomass development for animal,  poultry, fish etc.

3.4.9.      To create central facilities for preservation, storage of value added agricultural products to ensure effective marketing strategy for the products of agricultural Biotechnology.

3.5.      Biotechnology Park

The Government of West Bengal intends to promote the creation of Biotechnology parks within the State.

3.5.1.      Biotechnology Park will act as an instrument to develop Biotech industries for socio-economic development of the state.

3.5.2.      This will be a combined venture of industries, academia and government with clearly specified responsibilities of each. It will be a self sustaining setup for business startup support, business attraction and technology support in areas of  Biotechnology.

3.5.3.      The strategy of creating such Biotech park is to make up a common ground for the development of prospective technologies and the commercialisation of ventures with minimum gestation time.

3.5.4.      In accordance with the strength of the State of West Bengal the major thrust in such Biotech parks will be given towards Agri-Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals. The park will act as an incubator and will lead to the development of Biotech industries, improvement in quality of life, environmental improvement, employment generation and finally sustainable development in rural sectors.

3.5.5.      The park will contain industrial, commercial and R & D infrastructure, developed plots of land, power, water and telecom facilities for users. The parks will act as the technology providers to the small scale Biotech industries which will be housed within the park. These will lend R & D support to the prospective entrepreneurs. It will provide training to the farmers in order to enable them to adopt the new technological activities.  The parks will further provide marketing support to the users.

3.5.6.      In order that the parks appear attractive to the Biotech industries, the Government of West Bengal will evolve and set up effective administrative mechanisms so that quick approvals under various statutes are duly facilitated.

3.6.      Centre of Excellence  

To cope with the rapid advancement in the field of Biotechnology the state will create a Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology  which will have the state-of-the-art infrastructure for R & D activities by skilled professionals. A well thought mechanism shall be evolved for  development of trained manpower of all categories and the maintenance of  linkage with all the existing academic and research institutions, Govt. departments, voluntary organisations to aid in functions pertaining to Biotech activities. The Centre of Excellence  will have online access to major institutes and commercial houses of the country. It will further render services concerning the management of the state initiatives in Biotech activities. The Centre of Excellence will also house a nodal Bio-informatics centre having active linkage with small and large zonal Biotechnology parks for dissemination of relevant information to the aforesaid parks. A global advisory network in agriculture related Biotechnology will be made, and this will operate from within the proposed Centre of Excellence. The proposed Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology will take all initiatives for development of new Biotech products, development of new processing techniques and formulating methodologies for  certification of Biotech produces within the state of  West Bengal.

3.7.      Core facilities in genomics, bioinformatics etc.

3.7.1.      Government of West Bengal will promote creation of facilities for the identification of  the genetic defects in the human body in order to  rectify them by gene therapy.

3.7.2.   The State Government will assist in getting the genetic profile of the people in Indian Sub-continent, specially in West Bengal so as to help the upcoming research companies in evaluating the appropriate gene therapy models.

3.7.3.      State Government will act as facilitator for creation of facilities for molecular biology experimentations useful to diagnostics.

3.7.4.      The Government will take all measures to ensure development of facilities which would help to create DNA polymorphism maps and databases for the people of West Bengal and would also promote functional genomics.

3.7.5.      Bioinformatics capability for analytical and computational ability to infer gene function, based on sequence informatics, will  be enhanced.

3.7.6.      Government shall assist in the development of new algorithms, software and tools for data mining and warehousing applications.

3.7.7.   The State Government will encourage the establishment of small software groups and companies for developing competence to identify the useful genes.

3.7.8.      Government of West Bengal will facilitate the setting up of dedicated network centres for developing data warehouses, data design and mining from single and multiple databases.

3.7.9.      Development of  strong Bioinformatics machinery for exploitation of microbial genome information will be encouraged. The Government intends to develop an institutional framework of autonomous Bioinformatics centres within the State of West Bengal.

3.7.10.  Training of personnel will be given priority in order to get adequate number of experts in Bioinformatics within a reasonable short time.

3.8.      Manpower Development

            Biotechnology activities being highly knowledge-based, the Government of West Bengal will continuously strive for development of its human resources in all facets. The State Government is going to set up a Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology in order that advanced training at Post Graduate levels and above can be imparted. Advanced research will be promoted through the use of state of the art infrastructure that will be created within this Centre of Excellence.

            Already a few Post graduate courses are running in various universities of the state. Also imparting education at B.Tech. level has already started in different institutes of the state. The state government will encourage introduction of more such courses at the graduate and post graduate level so as to generate sufficient number of skilled personnel to take up the challenge in the emerging fields of Biotechnology. The universities / institutions already active in the field of education and research in Biotechnology will be provided adequate support in the pursuit of excellence. The state government will also encourage the universities / institutions to build active linkage with internationally reputed institutes.

            The state government will promote the setting up of more autonomous institutes under private participation for achieving excellence in specialised areas. To ensure better coordination among different R & D organisations such as IICB, Bose Institute, NICED, Calcutta University, Jadavpur University and others working in the field of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, the Government of West Bengal will extend support to these institutes for entering into partnerships with private companies for manufacture, marketing and transfer of technology so that the products of Biotechnology research can be brought to the common man. The Government will take adequate initiative in other manpower development aspects in order to :

3.8.1.      further strengthen the human resource development programme by including components of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics to the existing Life Science teaching courses both at the undergraduate and post-graduate level.

3.8.2.      enable research institutes, colleges, universities, NGOs and private organisations to undertake technicians/technology training courses for specific requirements.

3.8.3.      further conduct of popularisation and awareness campaigns on the uses of biotechnology in rural and urban areas through lectures, films, TV programmes and through the use of  Satellite Communication Channels.

3.8.4.      introduce short term courses incorporating Biotechnology with Business Management in the curricula of management and business schools.

3.8.5.      introduce law courses emphasizing Bio-safety, Bio-ethics, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for biotechnology industry.

3.8.6.      introduce diploma and certificate courses ( after 10 +2 higher secondary, CBSE, ISC ) for training biotechnology personnel in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, recombinant DNA technology to be initiated by the state and private sector.

3.8.7.      encourage different NGOs and private institutes to conduct effective farmer’s training programmes to enable them to make use of Agri-biotechnology.