EDII creates 14 biotechnopreneurs in Gujarat
Ahmedabad: Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), an acknowledged national resource Institute for Entrepreneurship Education, Research, Training and Institution Building, has created 14 biotechnopreneurs in Gujarat over last few years. This is Institute’s third batch of budding biotechnopreneurs after first batch that came out in 2011-12 and second that came out in 2013-14.
The Institute has trained students and professionals in the field of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and biomedical engineering through its biotechnopreneur programme. The Institute’s ten-month weekend programme is supported by Gujarat Sate Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM) of the Government of Gujarat. EDII along with State Government has been carrying out various interventions to strengthen the ecosystem that promotes innovation in Lifescience & Biotechnology sector.
Elaborating on the programme, Professor Bipin Shah, Programme Director and Senior Faculty, EDII said, “This unique 10-month custom tailored programme integrates practical as well as academic knowledge with hands on industrial exposure to ensure holistic growth of participants to support and fund the new enterprise. This is achieved through a combination of multidisciplinary curricula and unique pedagogy which allow utilisation of acquired skills in setting up the biotech venture.”
Professor Shah said the participants will gain business insight on biotechnology entrepreneurship and will also acquire technical skill set to build career opportunities in various domains of Biotechnology. “The programme aims to contribute to sustainable development of society by providing support to biotech businesses. Through its intensive curriculum, the programme sensitizes participants about multifaceted financial, marketing and regulatory issues related to biotechnology,” he added.
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director, EDII said, “EDII has been spearheading entrepreneurship movement throughout the nation with a belief that entrepreneurs need not necessarily be born, but can be developed through well-conceived and well-directed activities. Biotechnopreneur programme is conducted with this intention of creating entrepreneurs in the field of biotechnology, which is the new ray of hope for global challenges faced by mankind across sectors such as agriculture, health, environment and energy.”
Biotechnology Industry in Gujarat has a size of about Rs. 4000 crore. Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare sector contributes a major share of the industry at 46% (Rs. 1823 crore) followed by Agriculture Biotechnology Sector contributing about 21% (Rs. 834 crore). There are 154 registered Biotechnology firms in Gujarat, out of which 21 firms have revenues ranging between Rs. 50 and 500 crore.