Bhubaneswar: The state government will bring in a new ‘Orissa Biotechnology Policy – 2016’ to tap the potential of state’s bio-technology sector.
The policy, which is being put together by the science and technology department in consultation with industries department and experts, may be launched during the ‘Make in Orissa’ conclave to be held in the capital city November end.
Accordingly, the department has prepared a draft of the policy which will get its final shape before November, sources in the science and technology department said.
The policy seeks to help Orissa emerge as one of the top five ‘bio-tech hubs’ in the country for biotechnology investments by creating an enabling environment though strategic partnership initiatives, industrial infrastructure development, investment assistance and policy intervention.
Under the policy, the state government will set up a biotechnology fund with an initial corpus of `25 crore. The fund will be utilised for investments and promotional activities in bio-technology sector in the state.
Besides, the state government has also decided to utilise `100 core Industrial Infrastructure Development Fund (IIDF) for developing infrastructures in this sector.
For firms keen to invest in the sector, the state government will give land on priority and will reimburse power cost at `1 per unit for five years from the date of operation or manufacturing or production.
The state government will provide up to 33 per cent subsidy on plant machinery subject to maximum `5 crore.
Besides, one time grant up to `2.5 crore will be provided to universities and institutions for setting up or upgrading ‘Biotech Centre of Excellence.’
One time grant of up to `2 crore will be provided to universities for setting up of biotech enterprise and skill development institutes.
Besides, other support including establishment of a dedicated cell within the directorate of EPM will be provided to render export marketing services to bio-technology products and services.
“The new policy will offer scope for use of bio technology in many sectors including in food processing, commercial production of antibiotics, research in cellular, biology, genomics, RNA interference, establishment of cell lines in medical biotechnology, sperm banking facilities for maintenance and propagation of superior quality live stock in animal biotechnology sector,” officials of the science and technology department said.
The new policy would be a significant step for exploring bio-technology means for their eventual use in various sectors in Orissa which has a 480km stretch coastline, 5.72 million hectares of forest area and approximately 130 species of commercially relevant medicinal plant species along with a rich floristic wealth with an estimated 2,754 plant species.
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