Mumbai, India (CU)_ India and Colombia discussed prospective scientific collaboration in the biotechnology industry, with Colombia expressing interest for cooperation in vaccines, biosimilars, and medical devices sectors. High-level envoys from Colombia headed by Vice-President and Foreign Affairs Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez de Rincón paid a visit to the Indian Department of Biotechnology and met with Indian representatives headed by Renu Swarup, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
Rincón stated that she was looking forward to working together to establish a sustainable biotechnology environment, citing the health and biotechnology industries as significant priority areas of common interest. According to the Science and Technology ministry’s statement, there was a common exchange of ideas on prospective areas of scientific collaboration in the biotechnology industry.
According to the ministry, “To formalise the cooperation, a Letter of Intent is proposed to be executed between the Ministry of Science and Technology on the Indian side and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on the Colombian side”. Swarup expressed delight over the collaboration. He said, “Indian Biotechnology industry is aimed at reaching a USD 150 Billion Bio-economy by 2025. Look forward to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual scientific interest.”
Fernando Ruiz Gomez, Colombia’s Minister of Health and Social Protection, noted that India is a world leader in vaccine manufacturing and indicated a readiness to collaborate in vaccines, biosimilars, and medical devices sectors. Sergio Cristancho, Colombia’s Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, praised India’s achievements in the S&T sector over the past few decades and revealed that they intend to imitate Indian models of knowledge production and innovation and seek to create long-term joint efforts. DBT and DST Secretary Swarup expressed optimism that this tour will advance and carry the bilateral cooperation to the next stage in areas of common scientific interest.
Swarup expressed hope for collaboration in attaining the objective of a USD150 billion bioeconomy by 2025, highlighting that biotechnology is one of the rapidly growing industries, and that the Indian biotechnology industry targets to achieve a USD150 billion bio-economy by 2025. A summary of the range of initiatives sponsored by DST and DBT in the life sciences sector, as well as the work of BIRAC – Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council in fostering the biotechnology start-up and innovation ecosystem, was presented earlier during the conference.
