SOME BIOTECHNOLOGY PARKS OF INDIA

**Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park
Though Karnataka was the first to announce a Biotech plan for the state, it was Andhra Pradesh, which seized the opportunity. The Andhra Pradesh government was able to put its act together to identify and develop the facilities for biotech entrepreneurs. It entered into a public–private partnership with Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd with 11 percent equity stake and incorporated Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Biotech Park Pvt Ltd (SP Biotech Park) for developing and managing the Park at Shamirpet, near Hyderabad.
The Park has entered into the second phase of development. The first phase of the park comprised 140 acres of space. About 17 companies have already taken the position and have set up their units at the Park making an investment of about Rs 400 crore. "We are now developing the layout of Phase II of the Park which is 162 acres and the bookings are expected to be over by the end of this year," said S Dhawan, chief executive, Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park Pvt Ltd. Considering the demand, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. has approached the state government for more space for expansion of the park. It is expected to get an additional 100 acres of land for expansion of the biotech park in the third phase. "Another 101 acres is being allotted to start the third phase of the Shapoorji Pallonji Biotech Park and 100 acres for the Rs 125 crore National Animal Resource facility," informed Dr A Ashok, director of biotechnology, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

**ICICI Knowledge Park
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has one more park - ICICI Knowledge Park - to its credit in the knowledge intensive field. Launched by ICICI Bank Ltd in partnership with the state government, the park is focused on facilitating business-driven research and development. The park is spread over 200 acres of campus at Turkapally near Hyderabad

**International Biotech Park
Similarly the Maharashtra government too adopted a public-private partnership model for developing the biotech park in the state. International Biotech Park (IBP) is a joint venture project between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and TCG Urban Infrastructure Holding Ltd (TCGUIH), a Chatterjee Group company. With a total investment of Rs 250 crore in the project, MIDC will hold approximately 12 percent of the paid-up capital while TCGUIH will hold the remaining 88 percent. TCGUIH develops, promotes and markets the 110- acre park at Hinjewadi, near Pune

**Lucknow Biotech Park
Though Uttar Pradesh started a little late, it is aggressively developing its biotech park in Lucknow in association with Department of Biotechnology on an eight-acre land


**Ticel Bio Park
Opened in November last year, Ticel Bio Park offers developed space for entrepreneurs to set up research units, and common facilities for testing and analysis. Located near the TIDEL Park at Taramani near Chennai, this park was promoted by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) on a five-acre land, provided by the state government

These biotechnology parks areacting as bioclusters - where companies, universities and R&D institutes are all located in one place. The state governments too are supporting the industry players who are looking atsetting up their units at the parks by offering incubation facilities, taxholidays and incentive package;venture funding initiatives etc.The technical alliance the parks'promoters have entered into, is also attracting entrepreneurs.