Biotech in Bangalore - reflections on a decade of debate

Biotechnology in Bangalore Reflections on a decade of debate Ian Scoones STEPS Centre, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK

Bangalore: ‘the knowledge economy capital’

2002: hype and hope
Rapid economic growth and technology-led industrialisation (notably IT sector)
Competition between Indian states – and Chief Ministers - for foreign investment
Bangalore pitched as a ‘knowledge hub’ for biotechnology, linking public and private science
Substantial political (and economic) backing from State government (Vision Group, policy etc.)

Policy narratives
From IT to BT …. State support for new investments in biotech industry (mostly small start-ups doing contract research for US/European biotech companies)
From the Green Revolution to the Gene Revolution…. GM crops (Bt cotton) to help solve the cost constraint problems of agriculture. Joint public-private efforts, including State Ag University, Monsanto etc.

Bangalore and biotech

Examples R and D focus R and D Interactions Elite science IISc, NCBS Basic biology US/European universities Public science UAS Tissue culture, some transgenics Contract research for Monsanto Start up companies Avesthagen,Metahelix, Strand Genomics Genomic databases for Marker Assisted Selection Contract research for seed companies, Monsanto etc. Established local bio/agri- companies Rallis, Biocon Transgenics; seed development; genomics platforms Internal R and D; limited joint research TNCs Monsanto Transgenics; Pest management and cotton Internal company interactions; contracting out

Innovation and development
Excellence model
Cluster and hub model
Public private partnerships model

2002-12 - Six challenges to the vision

Science
New developments (genomics/informatics),
Transgenics hurdles
Few big-hit patents
Revised science-business model

Business
From start-up to emergent majors, through global alliances

2003-04 2010-11 Serum Institute Biocon Biocon Serum Institute Panacea Biotec Panacea Biotec Novo Nordisk Nuziveedu Seeds Venkateshwara Hatcheries Reliance Life Sciences Bharat Serums Quintiles India Aventis Pharma NovoNordisk Eli Lilly Co Rasi Seeds Chiron Behring Vaccines Mayhco GSK Transasia Indian Immunologicals Ankur Seeds Mayhco Monsanto Syngene International Novozymes Bharat Biotech Shanta biotechnics Indian Immunologicals Wockhardt Krishidan Seeds

Politics
The state and economic development.
The diminishing influence of the biotech-science elite?

Poverty and development
Bt cotton spread, but who benefits?
Inequalities in the new (bio)economy
Inclusive innovation

Civil society action
Public action and protest
Public interest litigation, court cases and media

Regulation
Risk, uncertainty and public disquiet
An acceptance of a more
precautionary stance?

The future? 4 issues....
Beyond transgenics
The Mysore model and state capitalism
Inclusive innovation – S and T for development
Publics, precaution and regulation

Biotech in Bangalore - reflections on a decade of debate

by STEPS Centre

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