India is considering various models of public-private collaborations to boost research and development in biotechnology and nurture highly trained scientists."The blueprint for biotechnology and life sciences (in the country) will be ready in a month,” said M.K. Bhan, director general, department of biotechnology, here Wednesday. He was referring to the new biotechnology policy at a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry."The biotechnology policy, which is being reviewed, would help implement new models of public-private partnership, promote quality scientific discovery and build a team of highly trained scientists,” said Bhan.The policy would include the recommendations of two committees headed by scientist M.S. Swaminathan and R.A. Mashelkar, director general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.India sees great advances in agriculture and health through biotechnology, which is expected to be the biggest driver of growth after information technology.
