GUWAHATI: The department of biotechnology under the Union ministry of science and technology plans to promote a women bio-entrepreneurship network in the Northeast as part of sustainable efforts to connect research with enterprise.
Speaking on the occasion of silver jubilee of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Northeastern Regional Centre here on Tuesday, Renu Swarup, secretary, department of biotechnology, stressed on the need for a greater academia-industry interface so that a strong connect between research and enterprise could be established in the region.
“We are focused on the cluster approach as we look to create a bio-entrepreneurship network for women. The first product as we build this venture would be orchids, which are in abundance. As it is we have given training on a number of activities to women in Bodoland,” Swarup said while delivering a talk on the topic – “Driving the Bio-economy Growth of Northeast: Creating Value from Bio-resources”.
She also said the Northeast has the maximum potential for bio-economy and the Eastern Himalayas can take the sector forward in the country.
The department has played a major role to build the academia-industry connect through the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council set up in 2012, whereby viable ideas are mentored and taken to the market.
“We now have a vibrant biotech ecosystem with as many as 1732 start ups in the biotechnology sector in the past five years. Prior to that there were just about ten to 12 pharma companies. We also have been doing a lot of incubation activity which renders mentorship and capacity building support to start-ups in the region,” she said.
Swarup also stressed on the need for a bio-economy technology mission for Northeast and innovative local solutions which may be a part of global strategies.
“The phyto pharma plant mission has just taken off in the region which will not only improve product quality but help connect farmers to the industry and create job opportunities,” she said.
“The department has been supporting TERI’s work in the region since 1999 when the TERI Northeastern Regional Centre set up a tissue culture facility here,” Swarup added.
Talking to The Shillong Times, Ajay Mathur, the director general, TERI, said that the institute has created the products, institutions and linkages in the Northeast so far but still has some ground to cover.
“We have to create a large-scale impact that can happen from all these benefits. TERI’s focus in the Northeast would be bio resources, water management and bio and solar based renewable energy,” Mathur said.
In Meghalaya, TERI has designed and installed bio-toilets in several schools in Ri Bhoi district as well as in East Khasi Hills district. These toilets are easier to transport and maintain in remote locations due to their utilisation of locally available microbes to convert fecal waste to gas and water.
The Centre has also initiated a mentoring programme under which DBT (department of biotechnology) Natural Resource Awareness Clubs were started in 391 schools across the eight North East states. The aim is to promote deeper awareness about bio-resources and their sustainable utilisation through biotechnology.
“The project has so far been carried out in 28 schools in Meghalaya in association with the State Council of Science, Technology and Environment,” a TERI official said.