First of its kind BioNEST Incubator launched
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 27: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today predicted that Kathua will lead biotech StartUp driven economic growth of North India.
While launching the first of its kind BioNEST Incubator at North India’s first Industrial Biotechnology Park, Ghatti in Kathua, he said that the geographical positioning combined with the region’s rich biodiversity makes Kathua uniquely suited to become North India’s startup destination in the biotechnology sector.
“Kathua’s selection as the site for this biotech park was strategic. Positioned advantageously in North India, this facility serves as a gateway for innovation not only from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh but also from neighbouring States of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
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Stressing that the resource richness and diversity of this region provide natural advantages that we must leverage fully, he said that this unique facility of incubation will begin a new era of scientific enterprise and economic transformation by providing an exposure to the youth of the region for developing a new outlook.
“With the establishment of NEST at Kathua, we are becoming a part of a big ecosystem that will be the driver of growth in the region in the coming years. With facilities like distillation, fermentation, plant tissue cultures, genetic process and various platforms and laboratories the Centre will have capacity for incubating 25 Startups every year,” he explained and added that this number is significant since there are nationally around 11,000 Startups in the Biotech sector and with 25 new Startups being incubated at Kathua Bio Tech park, the region would become a harbinger of prosperity and innovation in the field.
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The North India’s first Industrial Biotech Park was a flagship project of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, being headed by Dr Jitendra Singh and implemented by CSIR-IIIM, Jammu.
The Union Minister appealed to the youth and stakeholders to fully utilize this unique facility, where different kinds of job oriented skill development training will be imparted, support will be provided to Startups, and agri-entrepreneurs and agri-startups will receive every kind of facility and incubation support.
Dr Jitendra Singh predicted that in the coming years growth will be driven by areas that are unexplored and sectors that are untapped. “This makes the Biotech plant at Kathua the natural leader of economic growth for the region since the biotechnology sector has great potential in the coming years and the Himalayan region is yet unexplored making the natural resources in the region the best option for investment and career choice for the youth,” he said.
The Minister further revealed that six Sartups have been enrolled today and will receive proper training and incubation support from the facility at IBTP Kathua.
Dr Jitendra Singh complimented the Department of Biotechnology, GoI, under the leadership of the Secretary DBT, and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) for providing the funds to build the infrastructure here. He also appreciated CSIR-IIIM team, for mentoring the project and urged for a synergy between Central Government, State institutions, and research organizations thus exemplifying the spirit of cooperative federalism.
Earlier Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, informed that the Industrial Biotech Park offers comprehensive facilities, including Fermentation & Enzyme Production Facility, Phytopharma Drug Extraction Facility, Cultivation of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Micro Propagation Facility, and Central Instrumentation Facility. He further mentioned that the BioNEST incubator is BIRAC’s dedicated scheme to create globally competitive bio incubation facilities across India. He also informed about the launch of job-oriented skill development programme from today in IBTP Ghatti.
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