The positive economic outlook, the fact that India is the fourth largest manufacturer of medicines in the world and optimum research conditions make the subcontinent one of the most promising markets for the life-sciences sector in the world.
 

Strong investment and research climate

The Indian government supports biotechnology in all sectors. According to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expenditures for research will increase from approximately 0.8 percent (2006) to two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010. The official National Biotechnology Development Strategy, which calls for setting up a biotechnology industry with a sales target of seven billion US dollars by 2012, underscores this strategic orientation. The government plans to make more than 1.1 billion Euros available to this initiative over the next five years.

 
Percentage turnover of several biotech-sectors

Sektor	2006-2007	2005-2006
BioPharma	71	72
BioServices	13	11
BioAgri	10	9
BioIndustry	5	6
BioInformatics	2	2

Source: Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), 2007
 


The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), which belongs to the Ministry of Science and Technology, coordinates all research activities in India. Important research organizations such as the National Institute of Immunology in Delhi and the National Center for Cell Science in Pune belong to the DBT. High-priority projects in publically funded biotechnology research include red (medical) and green biotech research, and transgenic cotton plants in particular.
India's many biotech parks and clusters and its more than 20,000 scientists are indicative of the country's intense research activity and strong investment climate. The most important clusters include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune-Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad-Vadodara. The largest biotech park, which is more than 600 km² in size, is located in Hyderabad.
 

Green biotechnology

Plant biotechnology is currently in the midst of a boom. The amount of acreage used to cultivate genetically engineered plants is increasing at a rapid pace. Commercially grown, genetically engineered cotton in particular is very big in India. According to Indian GMO Research Information Systems (IGMORIS), a total of 135 transgenic sorts of biotech cotton plants are authorized for commercial cultivation in India (as of July 2007).


Intense cooperation

More and more international corporations are taking advantage of favorable conditions in India and relocating their research and development activities there. One important economic factor is the ability to contract research out to Indian companies. Lower wages make it possible to conduct research in keeping with international guidelines at lower costs. 
India has bilateral agreements with more than 50 industrialized nations including agreements covering the biotechnology sector, and efforts are being made to accelerate technological development. One initiative between Germany and India is supposed to generate interest in German-Indian cooperation among young Indian specialists. Some 4,000 Indian students were enrolled in German colleges and universities in 2008.
 
Source: www.biotechnologie.de / www.gtai.de