Incubation Center to Diversify Economy

2014
Dr. Zia Ahmed
Venture Art
12/19/2014
Diversifying to Knowledge Economy
Project Report

[DIVERSIFYING TO KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY PROJECT
REPORT] December 19, 2014
w w w . v e n t u r e a r t . b i z Page 2
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 3
Special Industrial Parks and Their Role in Diversifying Economy........................................ 6
The Global Debate on Industrial Park....................................................................................... 7
What does Industrial Park Produce?........................................................................................... 8
Bio-IT Knowledge Center -Project Description ......................................................................... 9
Focus Area Prospective Tenants............................................................................................... 11
Proposed Facilities.................................................................................................................... 11
Project Rationale....................................................................................................................... 12
Market Potential and Demand Dynamics............................................................................... 13
Kuwait - Issues and Challenges .............................................................................................. 14
Demographics.......................................................................................................................... 15
1- Corporate......................................................................................................................... 15
2- Manpower Governmental Restructuring Program - MGRP........................... 15
2- Public Authority of Applied Education & Training - PAAET........................... 15
4- Oil Sector ......................................................................................................................... 16
5- Civil Services Commission - CSC ........................................................................... 16
6- Kuwait Foundation of Advancement Sciences - KFAS ................................... 16
7- Public Courses................................................................................................................ 17
Major Issues and Challenges Arising from Topography, environment and weather
conditions..................................................................................................................................... 25
WATER CHALLENGES FOR THE REGION ....................................................................... 26
Contents .................................................................................................................................... 27
Ideas;......................................................................................................................................... 29
Agriculture................................................................................................................................ 30
Agricultural Biotechnology ...................................................................................................... 30
Insecticidal plant proteins ......................................................................................................... 32
Herbicide-tolerant plants........................................................................................................... 33
Bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers.............................................................................................. 35
Reducing phosphorus in farm animal waste ............................................................................. 35
Tree Biotechnology................................................................................................................... 37
Bioremediation.......................................................................................................................... 37
Environmental Biosensors ........................................................................................................ 39

Biotechnology and the Environment ........................................................................................ 40
Reducing Overall Chemical Stress on the Environment........................................................... 42
Health............................................................................................................................................ 45
Biotechnology in healthcare ..................................................................................................... 45
In just a few decades, the science of biotechnology has grown into a health care powerhouse.
................................................................................................................................................... 46
Figure 1 - Families in Kuwait....................................................................................................... 19
Figure 2 - Demographics .............................................................................................................. 20
Figure 3 - Employment Kuwait .................................................................................................... 21
Figure 4 - Private Sector Employment.......................................................................................... 22
Table 1 - Kuwait Demographics................................................................................................... 17
Table 2 - Kuwait Gender Analysis................................................................................................ 18

Introduction
Global economic uncertainty make it imperative that GCC countries should develop
competitive, diversified economies, concludes a new paper from the Carnegie Middle
East Center.
In the report explains that the top priority for the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC)
countries should be improving economic governance.
Recommendations for GCC countries:
 Improve minimum wage standards and working conditions to attract more
domestic employment and reduce dependence on immigrant labor
 Regionally concentrate on growth in non-oil sectors to avoid duplication in areas
like finance and tourism.
 Encourage foreign direct investment through better economic and corporate
regulation, including greater transparency in public spending and easier access
to credit.
Estimated at an annual average of US$327 billion over the period 2002– 2006, the
revenues more than doubled their average as compared with the preceding five years.
Despite the great oil windfall, the GCC countries faced the same challenges as they had
in previous periods. Efforts at diversifying their economies and reducing high oil
dependency resulted in limited change despite the multi track approach that these
countries were pursuing. GCC countries pursued the same policies they had pursued in
the previous period, without adapting to changed dynamics. They increased public
spending in order to distribute the new oil windfalls, but this proved unsustainable in the
long run given the oil price volatility.

The recent global financial crisis and the fall in oil prices demonstrate that the GCC
countries cannot count on steadily high oil prices. Therefore developing merit-based
competitive economies will remain the key challenge facing them.
Average GDP per capita across the six countries grew about 32% in the 2002–2007
period. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, average per capita
income measured in purchasing power parity (PPP) increased from US$12,000 in 2002
to above US$20,000 in 2007.
Several common features characterise the GCC economies: high dependency on oil, a
dominant public sector with a significant fiscal surplus, a young and rapidly growing
national labour force, and high dependency on expatriate labour. The GCC countries
face the urgency to address common challenges: diversifying their economies;
addressing low productivity and labour market setbacks; developing the non-oil private
sector.

Special Industrial Parks and Their Role in Diversifying
Economy
- Bio IT Knowledge Center
Objective
 To diversify local economy
 To increase high end employment opportunities for the national
 To develop Knowledge based economy for the future
 To develop education to locals in association with different universities
and biotech companies present in the park.
Components
 Biotech
 IT/ITES
 Pharmaceutical
 Pharmaceutical Logistic and
Warehousing
Area: - 200,000 square meter

The Global Debate on Industrial Park
Traditionally Industrial Park are created as open markets within an economy that is
dominated by distortion trade, macro and exchange regulation and other regulatory
governmental controls.
A long-held view of development economics is that investment, in particular foreign
investment, in enclaves such as INDUSTRIAL PARK, pushes forward the process of
industrial development by creating horizontal and vertical spillovers. Horizontal
spillovers are technology leakages and management know-how from multinational firms
to local industry competitors. Vertical spillovers are also known as forward and
backward linkages. Horizontal spillovers emerge from incentives for a corporation to
develop the supply chain through technology transfers to suppliers of the MNC as well
as those to whom these MNCs are suppliers. Such transfers include management
knowhow, staff training, and improved production efficiency. However, global evidence
Shared R & D Facilities
Companies
Regulatory
Window
Other shared
resources
Shared R & D Facilities
CompaniesCompanies
Regulatory
Window
Other shared
resources
Life Sciences Park / Cluster
Hospitals &
Healthcare Centers
Clinical Trials &
Other Facilities
Diagnostic
Services
Hospitals &
Healthcare Centers
Clinical Trials &
Other Facilities
Diagnostic
Services
Medical Colleges
& Institutes
Training
Shared Resources
Human
Resources
Medical Colleges
& Institutes
Training
Shared Resources
Human
Resources
Universities &
Colleges
Sharing of
Infrastructure
Germination & transfer
of ideas
Funding &
Commercialisation
Universities &
Colleges
Sharing of
Infrastructure
Germination & transfer
of ideas
Funding &
Commercialisation
Equity &
Interest
Funding
Agencies
Initial
Setup
Equity &
Interest
Funding
Agencies
Initial
Setup

reveals that horizontal spillovers are insignificant as MNCs are not willing to set up
business where technology leakages benefits competitors. On the other hand there is
evidence from developing countries like Indonesia
and China that shows the significant positive
spillovers of vertical linkages. In particular the
MNCs try developing local supply chains that in turn
help develop local industries in other areas.
Worldwide, the first known instance of an
INDUSTRIAL PARK seems to have been an
industrial park setup in Puerto Rico in 1947 to
attract investment from the US mainland. In the 1960s, Ireland and Taiwan followed
suit, but in the 1980s China made the Industrial Park gain global currency with its
largest being the metropolis of Shenzhen. From 1965 onwards,
Thirty years ago, 80 special economic zones
(Industrial Park) in 30 countries generated
barely US$6 billion in exports and employed
about 1 million people. Today, 3,000
Industrial Park operate in 120countries and
account for US $600+ billion in exports and
50 million direct jobs. After the success of
the first INDUSTRIAL PARK when it
appeared in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung harbor 40 years ago.
What does Industrial Park Produce?
Industrial Park is the markers of government's
strategy to create a "diversified" economy.
Objectives of Industrial Park

The objective behind an INDUSTRIAL PARK is to enhance foreign investment, increase
exports, create jobs and promote regional development. To put in the government’s own
words, the main objectives of the Industrial Park are:
(a) Generation of additional economic activity;
(b) Promotion of exports of goods and services;
(c) Promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources;
(d) Creation of employment opportunities;
(e) Development of infrastructure facilities.
Bio-IT Knowledge Center -Project Description
The 21st century has been acknowledged as the era of knowledge industries such as
Information Technology (IT) and Life Sciences. Application of advance IT and
biotechnology functions and techniques have become an imperative part of the complex
drug discovery cycle. Their convergence is leading to the emergence of novel
technologies and niche industry segments such as Bio-IT, with a potential to
revolutionize the global business scenario.
Bio-IT represents the marriage of life sciences and Information Technology (IT) and has
evolved as a result of convergence of several disciplines of science namely biology,
biochemistry, molecular biology, bio statistics and computer science.
“Bio-IT Knowledge Center” would be a geographic cluster of industry (IT & Life
Sciences), research institutions and sci-tech academia and would address the IT related
needs of the rapidly emerging life sciences industry and is expected to attract
investments (both domestic and foreign) in the related areas.
The Center would be set up on over 200,000 sq m of land and would be design in such
a manner so as to accommodate companies of all sizes and stages of development.
The center would provide developed plots for large and Integrated Bio-IT companies to
set up their campuses and ready-to-use modular offices, wet and dry lab space for

intermediate, small and start up companies. The two critical components of the
knowledge center would be an “Incubation Center” and a “Technology Development
Center”.
The Incubation Center (IC) would provide critical enabling infrastructure to start-up Bio-
IT companies and would assist them in the initial years (incubation period 2-3 years) to
acquire a critical mass and become self sustainable. Once profitable the company will
move out and venture on its own.
Technology Development Center (TDC) would facilitate the Small and medium size IT
players, inventors and entrepreneurs in the State, to start, expend or make their
business more competitive in the marketplace. TDC would provides direct assistance or
locates outside resources to help with business development, operations, sales and
marketing, workforce development, technology advancement and integration, and
entrepreneurial initiatives. TDC would foster links
with key research and academic institutions in the
State and would facilitate in the commercialization
of
pioneering inventions and technologies developed
in these institutes. TDC would also provide
operating assistance and management
consultancy regarding the technology valuation
and transfer, Intellectual Property protection,
patent and a range of financial, marketing, human
resource and other support functions. Following
would be the focus area and prospective tenants
of the envisaged Knowledge Center.

Focus Area Prospective Tenants
Bioinformatics --Drug discovery Companies
Chemo-informatics-- Pure play Bio-IT companies
Pharmacogenomics -- Biotechnology companies
Clinical informatics-- IT companies with focus on human health
Molecular modeling-- Service providers to life science companies
Bio engineering
Bio simulation
Proposed Facilities
The Knowledge Center would provide following facilities to its tenants:
Dry & Wet Labs --Technology Transfer Cell
Computational Biology Labs-- IT Center
Digital Imaging Center-- Central Instrumentation Center
Virtual Reality Center--Business Center
Bio-IT Software and Database Library-- Administrative Center
Intellectual Property Cell – D G SET
Manufacturing Companies
Pharmaceutical Ware-housing and Logistic Facilities

Project Rationale
A new breed of specialized service providers with domain expertise across different
verticals of drug discovery value chain is emerging very fast. Their growth is further
assisted by the increasing trend of outsourcing key R&D functions by integrated drug
discovery companies in order to minimize risk and cost associated with new drug
research. Development of enabling and facilitating infrastructure such as envisaged
Knowledge Center with plug & play kind facilities and incubation center will greatly
assist in the rapid flourishing of this new industry segments.
The presence of basic R&D infrastructure coupled with the quality talent foster
innovation but in the absence of high-end sustainable infrastructure, adequate finance,
guidance and facilities, most of these pioneering and revolutionary technologies remain
confined to the laboratories and many of the entrepreneurial dreams dies in their fancy.
The Knowledge Center would provide requisite infrastructure and other necessary
resources enabling the commercialization of these technologies.

Market Potential and Demand Dynamics
The Global Bio-IT market was estimated to be around USD 2.1 billion in 2000. Growing
with an estimated CAGR of around 50% the market is expected to be around USD 26
bn by the end of 2006. The global Bio-IT sector is primarily witnessing such growth
rates due to the ‘ever expanding’ computational needs for life sciences industry,
especially drug discovery companies.
The major drivers of the transcendent growth of this industry are the resurgent
advances in science within the Information Technology and Life Sciences domain and
the rapid acceptance of sophisticated Bio-IT techniques in R&D; high computational
requirements for biological R&D and the constant drive of the Bio-IT companies to move
up in their value chain. The key challenges faced by the global Bio-IT sector includes
managing and analyzing the biological research data;
developing tools which ameliorate human-computer interface; and increasing the
efficiency and effectiveness of database mining; integration of heterogeneous data; and
regulatory concerns.
The Indian Bio-IT industry is in the evolution phase. However, considering the wide
recognition of India’s capabilities in the technology-driven sectors across the globe, it is
expected to emerge as a leading player in the Bio-IT space.

Kuwait - Issues and Challenges
Topography
Kuwait is distinguished by its flat topography, broken only by occasional low hills and
shallow depressions. Kuwait’s terrain is a slightly uneven desert, sloping gradually from
sea level in the east, from the coast of the Arabian Gulf to the west and southwest. The
southwestern corner reaches as high as 300 meters above sea level.
Kuwaiti Terrain Map There are also small hills, such as the Jal Al-Zour Ridge that
overlooks the northern coast of Kuwait Bay and is as high as 145 meters. There are
other hills at Al-Laiyah and Keraa Al-Marw, in addition to some valleys and lowlands,
locally known as the Al-Khubarat, and sand dunes. Among the known valleys are the Al-
Baten Valley that goes along the western borders of Kuwait, and the Al-Sheqaq Valleys
in the northwestern part of Kuwait. The Al-Khubarat Valleys are found in different
places, but the most important of them are Al-Rawdatain and Umm Al-Aish in the north.

Demographics
1- Corporate
The corporate segment comprises 29% of the total training market in
Kuwait, with listed companies over 180 companies and hundreds of other
holding, and family-run companies. The corporate segment is growing fast
and is increasing competitive advantages through Training & Development.
The market for corporate training is diversified, as it includes learning basic
IT skills, Language, Technical, Management and Leadership types of training
programs.
2- Manpower Governmental Restructuring Program - MGRP
The MGRP, although relatively new to the market, is one of the governing
bodies to develop the knowledge and skills of Kuwaiti Nationals in order to
qualify them into the private sectors.
Over 10,000 new Kuwaiti employees are entering the private sector ever
since MGRP was established in 2003, with the main incentive provided to the
private companies of receiving 2,500 KD in exchange of training those
employees. On the other hand, Companies are required to employ Kuwaitis
with a pre-set percentage by the government depending on the sector.
2- Public Authority of Applied Education & Training - PAAET
65% of High school graduates enroll in either University of Kuwait, or
PAAET. The remaining graduates with the intention of continuing civil
academic studies in Kuwait are governed by PAAET to pass them through

Private Training Institutes for a reception of Diploma degree in two years. In
exchange, PAAET offers 2,500 KD per student to the training institutes, whose
capacity of each diploma study is 200 students.
4- Oil Sector
The Oil sector is one of the most important segments due to the frequency
needed to continually train its workforce. With 10.3% of total training
market, this segment requires all sorts of training programs, and by far,
some highly technical programs are considered the most expensive amongst
the training industry.
Although the Oil sector has a Training Centre (PTC) of its own, many of its
programs are handled by private training institutes in Kuwait and abroad.
5- Civil Services Commission - CSC
CSC is responsible for the management of training programs to all Ministries
in the country. With over than 10 million KD spent on training, CSC is the
fifth largest segment of the training market.
Most of the programs are directed to improve soft skills, management and
leadership, with only relatively few task-specific programs.
6- Kuwait Foundation of Advancement Sciences - KFAS
By law, certain company types are obliged to pay a contribution to KFAS at
the end of their financial years. In exchange for that, KFAS offers each of the
participating companies the privilege to enroll in training programs.

7- Public Courses
Public courses are scheduled training programs offered to the public.
Training institutes tend to market their training programs on the basis of
demand and market trends. Individual participants usually pay from their
own pockets to enroll in such programs to develop personal and professional
skills in order to move up the professional ladder.
Table 1 - Kuwait Demographics
Kuwaiti Non Kuwaiti Total
Population 1,242,499 2,722,645 3,965,144
Employment 439,204 1,931,850 2,371,054
Government 309,417 129,787 439,204
Private 89,308 1,225,492 1,314,800
Owners
Domestic 574577 574,577
Student (15 and above) 212,171 161,060 373,231
Housewife 69,672 192,659 262,331
Retired 83,533 790 84,323
Unemployed 11,531 30942 42,473
Other 7,624 13713 21,337
Student (0-5) 164,483 156,459 320,942
Student (5-9) 158,377 136,935 295,312
Student (9-15) 136,383 100,231 236,614
1,242,499 2,722,645 3,965,144

Table 2 - Kuwait Gender Analysis
Total Population Male Female Total
Kuwaiti 610545 631954 1242499
Non Kuwaiti 1772413 950232 2722645
Total Population 2382958 1582186 3965144
By Employment Male Female Total
Government 168,702 140,715 309,417
Private 44,032 45,276 89,308
Total 212,734 185,991 398,725
By Employment Male Female Total
Government 87,133 42,654 129,787
Private 1,107,091 118,401 1,225,492
Domestic 268,002 306,575 574,577
Total 1,462,226 467,630 1,929,856
Non Kuwaiti Employment
Total Gender Distribution
Kuwaiti Employment

Figure 1 - Families in Kuwait

Figure 2 - Demographics

Figure 3 - Employment Kuwait

Figure 4 - Private Sector Employment

Climate
Kuwait has hot, dry desert climate through out the entire year, and is hotter in the
summer, which starts in April and ends in October. Temperatures reach 51° C in the
summer. The average temperature is 44° C, often with dust storms.
The winter in Kuwait is short but warm. Temperature in the winter is around 18° C, but
sometimes is as low as zero. The autumn and spring are short seasons in Kuwait, and
occasional rain falls only in the winter and varies in quantity from one year to the other.
Population Growth
Historically, data on the population of Kuwait depended mainly on estimates recorded
by travelers who used to pass through Kuwait. The first official census was done in
1957, estimating the population at 206,473 persons, including 92,851 non-Kuwaitis. In
1961, the population reached 321,621 persons, comprising 62% males and 37%
females. The gap in gender percentage resulted from immigrants who started to arrive
in Kuwait at that time in large numbers.
Since 1965, Kuwait has conducted regular censuses every five years.In 1985, the
population reached 1,697,301 persons, 56% of whom were males and 44% were
females. In 1990, the population reached 2,141,465 persons, including 72% non-
Kuwaitis. In that year, major changes in living conditions occurred in Kuwait as a result
of the Iraqi aggression and the sudden emigration of a large number of non-Kuwaitis. In
1995, the population reached 1,577,598 persons, 58% of whom were non-Kuwaitis.
Most of the population resides in Kuwait City and its suburbs, especially in places that
overlook the coast of the Arabian Gulf.
Physiographically, Kuwait is located between the northern part of the Arabian Gulf
coastal region , the southern borders of Dibdibah gravel plain and the lower
Mesopotamian plain of Iraq. It is bordered to the west by Ad-Dahna Sand Sea of Saudi
Arabia and to the east by the Arabian Gulf.

Kuwait has desert topography of low to moderate relief. This flat sandy desert can be
roughly divided into two regions. The northern region is hard, flat stone desert with
shallow depressions. Low hills run northeast to southwest and end near Ar-Raudhatain;
an area of underground water storage. The principal hills in the north are Jal Az-Zor
(145 meters) and Jal Al-Liyah. The southern region is a treeless plain covered by sand.
Al-Ahmadi hill, 125 meters high, is the sole exception to the flat terrain. Wadi Al-Batin
and Ash-Shaqq are the only major valleys, portions of which lie within the western and
southern reaches of the country, respectively.
Rocks ranging in age from early Miocene (about 24 million years) to Recent are
exposed within the boundaries of Kuwait. The oldest exposed rocks in Kuwait are those
of Middle Eocene age (about 47 million years). Dammam Limestone form the Ahmadi
Ridge to the south of Kuwait City.
The northern coastal part of Kuwait, where the islands of Warbah and Bubyan are
located, is believed to be the

Major Issues and Challenges Arising from Topography,
environment and weather conditions
 Water
 Agriculture
 Environment
 Health
CCAAUUSSEESS AANNDD IIMMPPAACCTTSS OOFF
WWAATTEERR SSCCAARRCCIITTYY
Threatened health
and well-being of
society
Inadequate
pollution
control
Inefficient
use of
water
Population pressureClimate and
geographical location
Over-
exploitation
Water shortage Quality degradation
Results
Management
Prevailing
Conditions

WATER CHALLENGES FOR THE REGION
 Limited water supplies of variable quality
 Increasing gap between demand and availability
 Lack of a comprehensive strategy for water resources
 Fragmented institutional framework
 Limited enforcement of legislation to protect water resources
The Desalination and Advanced Water Reuse becomes and extremly important tool in
the Integrated Water Management. The establishing optimized models and example of
effective implimentation of desalinated projects trough IWPP will provide in short term
the critically needed desalinated water.
To meet the challenge, large-scale dual-purpose power/desalination plants are built to
reduce the cost of production of electricity and water. Thermal energy extracted or
exhausted from power plants is used effectively in the desalination process. In the
author’s estimate, over 30,000 MW of power is combined with desalination plants in the
largest use of the cogeneration concept.
There are unique conditions in the many arid countries and particularly in the Gulf
where peak demand for electricity rises significantly during summer mainly because of
the use of air-conditioning, and then drops dramatically to 30-40% of summer capacity.
This creates situation that over 50% of power generation are idled. In contrast, the
demand for desalinated water is almost constant. Water can be stored while electricity
storage is not practical.
Cost-effective integration of three proven technologies, desalination, power and aquifer

storage recovery (ASR) can secure a reliable, sustainable and high-quality fresh water
supply for the Gulf States. The seasonal surplus of unused idle power could be used by
electrically driven desalination technologies RO and Hybrid Systems including NF/RO/
MSF process in combination with ASR creating a system of Desalination/ Aquifer
Storage and Recovery (D/ASR). The ability to store and recover large volumes of water
can contribute to the average downsizing of power and water facilities with substantial
operational cost savings. D/ASR provides strategic reserves of potable water, to prevent
damage or depletion to existing oasis or aquifers, for controlling salt-water intrusion, or
improvement in water quality. D/ASR is of strategic importance to the Middle East
Contents
Today the Water availability and security is even more of a critical concern and became
a more important priority for the Middle East Region. In addition, the critical need for a
reliable water supply creates an opportunity for the leadership to demonstrate its
management abilities by supporting a program to substantially improve the availability of
water and provide security of its supply.
Fresh water is no longer the infinitely renewable resource that we once thought it was.
Unlike oil, fresh water has no viable substitute. The sea is the unlimited source from
which we can create new fresh water through desalination
This century demands creative solutions. It requires effective integration of energy
resources to generate power and to economically create and store desalinated water.
Confronting the water challenge is essential to a country’s sustainable development and
to the security of its communities. Water will be the most important resource of this

century.
The GCC countries installed over 15.9 million m3/day desalination plants, equal to 42%
of global installed capacity and which constitute over 50% of all municipal water
supplies. Equally important, most of the countries have only one to three-day of water
supply in storage, meaning that if the plants providing the desalinated water or the
pipelines transporting the water to the cities were disrupted, major water shortages
would immediately be the result.
The Middle East countries, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council States- GCC is the
biggest users of desalination technology a 42%, and significantly more over 60% of the
world’s seawater desalination capacity. It is in the Abu Dhabi where commitment for
new desalination capacity is the greatest. To meet the challenge, large-scale dual -
purpose power/desalination plants are built to reduce the cost of production of electricity
and water.
There are unique conditions in the many arid countries, particularly in the Gulf where
peak demand for electricity rises significantly during summer and than drops
dramatically to 30-40% of summer capacity. This creates situation that over 50% of
power generation are idled. In contrast, the demand for desalinated water is almost
constant. Water can be stored while electricity storage is not practical.
The concept of an independent power producer (IPP) is rapidly finding acceptance in all
the Middle East in the form of Independent Water and Power Projects (IWPP) or IWP. It
is particularly exciting to look at the Integration of Desalination and Power in Abu Dhabi,
and the Emirates where pioneering privatized projects and technologies were
introduced in the power-desalination industry. All the GCC countries enter IWPP

programs and finding the best technical and financial solution is a major challenge for
the Region
Desalination remains the main source of water in the Gulf and the idea is catching on
elsewhere. Gulf demand continues to drive desalination spending
GCC states are to double installed capacity over the next decade, while North Africa is
emerging as one of the fastest growing markets for the technology.
Governments are increasingly turning to the private sector to bring contracting and
technical expertise, technological and commercial innovation, and private finance to
projects. The build-operate-transfer (BOT) model is gaining acceptance for Greenfield
and Brownfield projects across the region.
The installation of new desalination capacity will require worldwide expenditure of at
least $95,000 million over the next decade, according to a recent report by London-
based Global Water Intelligence (GWI). Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of spending will
be accounted for by the Middle East. The combination of rapidly growing populations,
depleted ground water resources and the retirement of old desalination plants built
during the oil boom era of the 1970s and 1980s will require regional capacity increases
of more than 150 per cent by 2015, raising concerns about the ability of some
governments to finance the shortfall.
Ideas;
It requires that all of us continue the search for better technical and economical
solutions to make desalination and water reuse available to all the people of the global

village. We need to lead research and development to new solutions for membrane,
distillation, hybrids and new alternatives. We need to better integrate energy, power,
and water. We have to look for new ideas on energy recovery, storage of water, and
more effective materials and chemicals. We have to learn how to extend the life of
existing plants and upgrade existing desalination facilities.
Many Water Forums and Conferences and Workshops will take place in the Gulf Region
to come implement many novel and optimized solutions.
Costs;
The day came when the cost for seawater desalinated dropped to below 50 ¢/m³ but our
goal is to make desalinated water available for global community at affordable cost.
The challenge demands that all of us recognize the compelling need to adopt new
pioneering ideas utilizing advanced technologies to further reduce the cost of
desalination plants and to better match the power and water needs.
Agriculture
Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnology is the application of scientific techniques to modify plants, animals, and
microorganisms. Agricultural biotechnology applies genetic engineering methods to
agricultural products. These procedures directly change the DNA of the plant, usually by
inserting genetic material from another organism.

Agricultural biotechnology is playing an increasingly important role in. Biotechnology is
being used to protect from a virus. Seed growers, a major supporter of biotechnology,
have become a significant source of income.
Agricultural biotechnology is a revolutionary tool that is transforming the agricultural
sector. It has the potential to spur economic growth, increase productivity in the
agricultural sector, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and lessen the environmental
impact of agricultural production.
Public perception and understanding of agricultural biotechnology;
 Legal considerations related to the use of agricultural biotechnology;
 Public and private sector relationships in agricultural biotechnology; and
 Effective collaboration with other APEC fora
The HLPDAB works closely with the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working
Group's (ATCWG) Sub-group on Research, Development and Extension of Agricultural
Biotechnology (RDEAB). RDEAB is focused on developing transparent, science-based
approaches to agricultural biotechnology. It's work includes capacity building activities
and research on the effects of gene flow and genetically modified crops; and it
encourages dialogue between the private and public sectors to promote research and
the development of biotechnology.
The first high level policy dialogues on agricultural biotechnology took place in 2002.
Effects of Biotechnology on Agricultural

Biotechnology has the potential to reduce the application of agricultural chemicals for
pest control and fertilization through the utilization of genetically modified
microorganisms, plants, and animals.
Insecticidal plant proteins
Through the use of biotechnology, scientists have developed plants that produce a
naturally occurring protein that is toxic to certain crop-damaging insects. The most
common examples are
the "Bt" plants, which include corn, cotton, and potatoes. These genetically engineered
plants produce a protein normally found in the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
Commercial sprays that contain Bacillus thuringiensis have been available for decades
as an alternative to chemical insecticides. The Bt protein is toxic to certain crop-
damaging insects, but is harmless to humans. Researchers are also searching for other
insecticidal and antimicrobial proteins that are appropriate for use in crops.
Because these plants produce insecticidal proteins, they provide at least partial
protection from damage caused by certain insects, which results in reduced chemical
insecticide use in the environment. Another possible advantage to the environment is
reduced fuel consumption by farm equipment as a result of fewer chemical applications.
An important concern associated with the release of a genetically engineered plant into
the environment is its potential negative effect on non-target organisms. In 1999, a

group of scientists working in a laboratory setting reported that the Bt protein was toxic
to monarch caterpillars after some Bt plants had already been approved for commercial
use. In the wake of the report, the United States Department of Agriculture organized a
large investigation, funded by both government and industry, to address the effects of Bt
corn on the monarch butterfly. The conclusion from that study was that Bt corn posed a
"negligible" risk to monarch caterpillars in field situations. However, most scientists
agree that continued monitoring of these plants is prudent to determine their long-term
environmental effects.
Herbicide-tolerant plants
In conventional farming, weed growth is controlled through a combination of plowing
and chemical herbicide application. Plowing leaves the soil exposed to wind and rain,
which results in significant erosion of the land. In "no-till" agriculture, plowing of the soil
in preparation for planting a new crop is eliminated. Remainders of the previous crop
and a cover crop are left undisturbed on the soil surface while the new crop is planted
directly into the crop residue. Herbicides are applied to kill any weeds that may be
present. A 2001 Virginia study, conducted by The Colonial Soil and Water Conservation
District, used rainfall simulation to investigate the effects of a no-till system on ten
experimental plots. The study found that when no-till planting was used, there were 99,
75, 95 and 92 percent reductions in the loss of sediment, runoff, nitrogen, and
phosphorus, respectively. There is currently a nationwide movement to increase the use
of no-till agriculture. A key ingredient to success will be weed control.

Through modern biotechnology, plants have been developed that are tolerant to certain
herbicides (herbicide tolerant, HT), which allows farmers to use a broad spectrum spray
for weed control without killing the crop they are growing. In the United States, the HT
traits are available in a number of crops including canola, corn, cotton, and soybeans.
The biggest environmental advantage from using HT crops is that farmers can more
easily implement a no-till system. Furthermore, because a broad-spectrum herbicide is
applied, fewer types of herbicides are used. This practice reduces the amount of soil
lost to erosion, provides additional protection for the seedlings, and reduces farm
equipment usage.
In 2001, the American Soybean Association conducted a Conservation Tillage Study
and found that 73% of soybean growers were leaving more crop residue on the soil
surface than they did in 1996, meaning that there was an increase in no-till agriculture.
More than half of the 452 growers surveyed attributed this increase to the use of HT
soybeans. The effect of HT crops on herbicide use, including the type, amount, and
associated costs, is currently being evaluated.
One concern of this technology is the possibility for the HT trait to be naturally
transferred to plants in the wild, rendering them tolerant to commonly used herbicides
and potentially allowing them to grow unchecked. This occurrence depends on the
ability of the HT plant to breed with other plant species and its mechanism of pollination.
Transfer of the HT trait to wild plants has not been shown to be a problem to date.
However, it has been documented that the HT trait can be transferred between different

varieties of the same plant species once the plant is in the field. For example, a
Canadian farmer unintentionally developed a canola plant that was resistant to three
herbicides by growing different varieties of canola in close proximity to one another.
This allowed the three HT
traits to be transferred among the canola varieties as a result of natural pollen
movement. This incident underscored the need to use good crop management practices
in conjunction with these types of plants.
Bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers
Biotechnology may also reduce the use of agricultural chemicals through development
of genetically engineered biological agents that protect crops from disease and insect
destruction, and that promote growth. Scientists are currently investigating viruses,
bacteria, and fungi that have beneficial properties for plants, which could be enhanced
through genetic modification. These microorganisms would then be applied to plants or
the surrounding soil. However, there are issues associated with releasing genetically
modified microorganisms into the environment and their potential effects on non-target
organisms.
Reducing phosphorus in farm animal waste

Manure from certain animals including swine and poultry contains high levels of
phosphorus because the phosphorus in grain-based diets is in a chemical form that the
animals are unable to metabolize. To meet animal nutrient requirements, additional
phosphorus is added to animal diets, which results in even higher concentrations of
phosphorus in the manure. When the manure is applied to the land to improve soil
fertility, excess phosphorus can become an environmental pollutant through storm
runoff into streams and rivers.
If these animals could utilize phosphorus in grains, additional phosphorus
supplementation could be minimized and the amount of phosphorus in animal wastes
would be reduced. For this to occur, animals need an enzyme called "phytase."
Researchers recently developed several methods to potentially supply animals with
phytase:
 Phytase was purified from a microbial source and used as a feed additive.
Currently, its use has not been widely adopted.
 Canola, which was genetically modified to produce phytase, was subsequently
used as a feed source, resulting in reduced phosphorus in manure.
 Scientists from Canada and Denmark collaborated to develop transgenic swine
that produced phytase in their saliva. The swine secreted enough phytase to
reduce excreted phosphorus by up to 75 percent.

Tree Biotechnology
The process of making paper from trees requires the use of highly toxic chemicals that
are harmful to the environment. The requirement to degrade the tree's lignin is a major
reason for the use of the harsh chemicals. Scientists have recently used biotechnology
to reduce the lignin content of aspen trees by 45%, potentially making it easier to
prepare the pulp. These trees had the additional benefits of faster growth and an
increased cellulose content, which is the component needed to
produce paper. It is hoped that trees such as these may one day prove beneficial to the
environment, but further studies are needed on the possible adverse effects that they
could have on complex environmental ecosystems.
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of biological agents such as bacteria, fungi, and plants to
remove, degrade, or detoxify pollutants from contaminated environmental sites. This
technology is appealing because of the enormous costs and environmental disturbance
that are associated with current clean up methods.
Scientists are identifying naturally occurring organisms that may be useful for
bioremediation. They are also genetically modifying these organisms as a way to
expand the list of treatable contaminants and to maximize their efficiency and safety.

Environmental contaminants that are targets for bioremediation include:
 organics (petroleum products and other carbon-based chemicals)
 metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc)
 radioactive materials
Research is ongoing to determine if bioremediation represents a viable option both
environmentally and monetarily. Although some success has been achieved in the
laboratory, it is much more difficult to test and monitor the utility of these organisms in
field settings.
Assuming the scientific obstacles are overcome, the safety of releasing these
genetically modified organisms into the environment is being discussed. To avoid any
unforeseen problems, one strategy under investigation is to make the organism
dependent on the contaminant for life; therefore, when the contaminant has been
successfully removed from the environment the organism will die. Another option is to
take contaminated soil and water to contained facilities for biological decontamination, a
much more expensive proposition.
Bioremediation using Deinococcus radiodurans
The United States Department of Energy estimates that the use of current methods to
decontaminate the 3,000 sites in this country that have been used for nuclear weapons
production will cost approximately $250 billion.

The bacterium, Deinococcus radiodurans, may one day be used to reduce these costs.
Through a mechanism that continues to both intrigue and puzzle scientists, the
bacterium is able to grow normally after being exposed to 1.5 million rads of radiation. A
dose of 500-1000 rads is lethal to the average person. Although interesting, the ability to
withstand deadly doses of radiation is not by itself useful. However, scientists are
currently trying to genetically modify Deinococcus radiodurans so that it is able to
sequester or detoxify radioactive compounds, toxic metals, or organic chemicals that
may be present at contaminated sites.
Environmental Biosensors
The development of new biosensors, systems that use living organisms to detect
environmental contaminants, has the potential to change the way in which
environmental quality is monitored. Currently, environmental samples must be collected
and taken to a laboratory where contaminant concentrations are determined. This is an
inefficient, labor-intensive process that can result in contamination going unnoticed for a
critical period of time. Plants and microorganisms are being developed that exhibit a
quick, detectable response to low levels of contamination. These biosensors can be
maintained on-site where they can monitor conditions constantly. For example,
biosensors could be used in the soil or water outside of factories to ensure that
discharge from the factory was acceptable at all times or at nuclear reactor sites to
make certain that radioactive materials were not being released into the environment.

Biosensors may one day be used to detect forgotten landmines in war-torn countries by
genetically modifying plants to be responsive to the explosive TNT, which is present in
the soil near landmines. The United Nations estimates that worldwide there are
approximately 110 million unexploded landmines, which kill or maim approximately
26,000 people per year. The theory is that by sowing, maintaining, and monitoring these
TNT-detecting plants using planes or helicopters, it will be possible to identify the
location of landmines. It is hoped that this method would replace the current procedure
used in developing countries to locate landmines, which uses individuals with sticks to
search suspected areas.
Biotechnology and the Environment
Even under the best of conditions, food production for hundreds of millions of people
can take a toll on the environment. Erosion can claim precious topsoil, farm chemicals
sometimes reach streams, rivers and groundwater supplies, and livestock can deplete
grazing lands. Wetlands and other sensitive habitats sometimes get ploughed under for
use as farmland. And, in the world's tropical forests where an estimated 90 per cent of
the world's species exist, farmers clear trees in order to provide food and a living for
their families.
By improving many aspects of modem agriculture, biotechnology can help alleviate
many of these pressures on the land, both by preserving natural resources and
reducing environmental stresses.
Increasing a Crop's Ability to Fight Pests and Diseases

Biotechnology can be used to confer in-built resistance to pest and diseases. To protect
against insect damage and minimise the amount of insecticides on crops, biotechnology
has modified plants such as tomato, potato, corn and cotton, to protect themselves
against insects, rather than relying solely on surface application of pesticides.
Resistance to plant diseases is also possible. Plant viruses of varying kinds often claim
up to 80 per cent of many crops. In the same way vaccines immunise humans against
various diseases, biotechnology allows modern breeders to insert small fragments of
plant viruses into crops, which develop natural protection or immunity against those viral
diseases. The immunity is passed on to future generations of plants.
This has enormous implications for world food production.
 Using biotechnology, growers will only need to plant one or perhaps two acres -
instead of five acres or more - to ensure one acre's worth of harvest. This
obviously means far fewer agricultural inputs such as fuel, labour, water and
fertiliser.
 Insecticide sprays required to kill the aphids and other pests that transmit most
viruses would be reduced or eliminated. This benefits the environment while
increasing yield and food quality.
 Viral protection for plants will help growers of watermelons, cucumbers, potatoes,
tomatoes, lettuce, alfalfa and squash, as it has already increased yields for
papaya farmers.

Reducing Overall Chemical Stress on the Environment
Many of today's fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and other pesticides are better,
safer and more environmentally sensitive than older versions. Even so, they sometimes
enter the air, soil and groundwater when they blow or wash off plants. Biotechnology
can achieve many of the goals for which pesticides were designed, often more
efficiently.
Farmers recognise more than anyone that healthy growing environments define their
future. Thus, they seek better ways to control weeds with the least toxic herbicides
available that do not damage food crops. They also strive to reduce their use of
insecticides and fungicides, limiting their own exposure to the chemicals. And growers
have strong economic incentives to reduce agricultural inputs thereby reducing their
costs.
Saving Valuable Topsoil
Erosion of topsoil by wind and water can be cut by more than 70 per cent - in some
cases up to 98 per cent - when farmers use no-till techniques, meaning they do not
plough under weeds and crop residues after harvesting or before planting.
Biotechnology can help reduce the need for tilling.
The Nitrogen Burden
Even though the Earth's atmosphere contains about 78 per cent nitrogen, most crops
have no mechanism to use this natural nitrogen. Therefore, farmers depend on added

fertilisers to provide the nitrogen necessary to boost crop yields. But crops only use
about 50 per cent of the more than 60 million pounds of nitrogen fertilisers added to
them each year. The excess nitrogen can cause environmental problems in soil and
water.
Growers have long recognised and used the innate abilities of legumes like soybeans to
"fix" nitrogen, which means to use the natural nitrogen in the soil and air. These natural
nitrogen fixers replenish the nitrogen supply in the soil from which they were harvested.
The desire among breeders to develop other crops that can "fix" their own nitrogen, has
put such plants high on researchers lists.
Should breeders succeed in creating the "self-fixers," they would:
 allow farmers to decrease their use of synthetic fertilisers while maintaining
bountiful yields;
 result in less nitrogen from fertilisers remaining in the soil to degrade and leach
or run off into the water;
 greatly enhance productivity in many regions of the developing world whose
farmers cannot afford nitrogen fertilisers.
Plant Biodiversity
Of the more than 80,000 species of edible plants known to exist, humans cultivate only
about 300 of them. Of those, only about 12 have emerged as major staples. Through
genetic modification, crop breeders can:

 Increase the use of plant species by using biotechnology to discover which
genes of value reside in which plants and then transferring those genes into
crops now in use around the globe.
 Expand the genetic variation in staple crops by breeding into them desirable
traits from previously unavailable sources. This will not affect the relatively
narrow genetic lineage of many crops in the near term. Longer term, it will
significantly expand the gene pool used in modern agriculture and thus reduce
the relatively low, but real, risk of crop failures.
 Expand many wild relatives of modern crop plants that might be threatened with
extinction.
 Finally, enable scientists to learn what important genes are actually contained in
the millions of plant specimens housed in gene banks around the world.

Health
Biotechnology in healthcare
The tools and techniques of biotechnology have opened up new doors when it comes to
researching and learning more about the human body and what goes wrong with it
when problems arise. Due to being able to understand the molecular base of health and
disease this has lead scientists to improved methods of treating and preventing those
diseases.
Biotechnology has made a huge difference in human health care and has now enabled scientists
to develop products which can give quicker and more accurate tests, therapies that have a lot less
side effects and vaccines which are safer than ever before.
Diagnosing and biotechnology
Medical conditions and diseases are now being detected more accurately and quickly due to the
advancement of biotechnology based tools, an example of the benefits biotechnology has
brought us, and one which most people will be able to relate to, is the home pregnancy testing
kit.
The new generation of home testing kits are able to provide results which are more accurate and
are able to be used much earlier than the ones a few years ago.
Illnesses such as strep throat and other infectious diseases are now diagnosed within minutes
enabling treatment to begin at a much earlier time where previous tests could take a few days.

In just a few decades, the science of biotechnology has grown into a
health care powerhouse.
Today, the industry is delivering hundreds of therapeutics and vaccines for deadly
ailments, including diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease that affect millions, and
treatments for rare disorders that affl ict only a few thousand people worldwide.
The future looks even brighter with promising compounds in advanced clinical testing
and countless early-stage technologies—such as stem cells and RNA interference—
creating still more possibilities. It’s no surprise that health is biotech’s largest application
area, and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents the world’s largest
group of biotechnology companies, academic centers, associations and other
organizations working every day to bring groundbreaking advances to the public. These
advances extend to enlisting biotech drugs and biotech diagnostics to design tailored
treatments for individuals—making health care more predictive, preventive and precise.
BIO’s Health Section is where these biomedical innovators find the advocacy and
business support they need to continue bringing the world the lifesaving and life-
enhancing therapies that only biotechnology can provide. We work

Financials
1. Land Area 200,000 sq m
2. Common facilities and Infrastructure 20% = 40,000 sq m
3. Pharmaceutical Logistics and Warehousing zone 20% =
40,000 sq m
4. Pharmaceutical manufacturing zone 20% = 40,000 sq m
5. Biotech and IT Park 40% = 80,000 sq m
Development Cost
1. Development of common facilities and infrastructure KD
10 million.
2. Pharmaceutical Logistics and Warehousing zone 20% =
40,000 sq m – Direct Sale of Land to Warehousing
Companies
3. Pharmaceutical manufacturing zone 20% = 40,000 sq m
Direct sale of land to Pharmaceutical manufacturer.
4. Biotech, IT Park 40%= 80,000 sq m. Total construction
200,000 sq m at the rate of 400 KD per sq m= KD
80million.

If you are looking to start a project we are just click
away
For Detailed Project Report
Feasibility Report
As per your needs based on your place and location
Dr. Zia Ahmed
zia@milestonevision.com
“Ethical, Transparent and Sustainable”
http://ventureart.biz

Incubation Center to Diversify Economy

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