India-US joint industry working group for biotechnology has decided to prepare a comprehensive report in three areas — transfer of biomaterials, clinical research and new product development and innovation.

Material transfer agreements and protocols are required to be in place for facilitation of bio material movements. Infrastructure and processes also need to be formalised and set up for the movement of biomaterials. An ATCC subsidiary in India could catalyse the process, while collaboration between the regulatory mechanisms like the USFDA would be necessary.

Facilitation of material handling at Indian airports and ports requires appropriate infrastructure development. Appropriate development of customs procedures and their implementation framework will also be needed. Adequately trained manpower for bio material handling will be necessary for effective movement.

This joint working group launched by the Union science and technology minister, Kapil Sibal in New York in US on will be coordinated by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) from the Indian side and USIBC from the American side. It will be co-chaired by the chairman of Bharat Biotech, Dr Krishna Ella and the executive director of Merk & Co, Nigel Thomson, an official press release said.

Launching the joint industry working group, Mr Sibal emphasised the need for greater private-public sector cooperation and invited US industry to utilise the significant cost advantage offered in India and invest in sectors like pharma, agriculture biotechnology, food processing, clean technologies, alternate sources of energy.

He detailed the facilitating environment created by the Indian government like announcement of biotech policy, setting up of innovative funding and the proposed single window regulatory mechanism.

Accordingly, the new joint industry working group decided to prepare a comprehensive report on three identified areas, namely transfer of bio materials, clinical research and new product development and innovation.

The joint industry group is the outcome of the India-US High Technology Group (HTCG) meeting in Delhi in December 2005. It is set up as a part of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) that identified biotechnology as one the four key areas of collaboration with public private partnership.

(www.financialexpress.com)