AGRIL.BIOTECHNOLOGY

DBT to Establish Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will establish Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology to enhance institutional research capacity for endorsement of excellence in interdisciplinary science and innovation in specific areas of biotechnology. The information was provided by Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences.

As per sources, Mr. Bansal provided the information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Further, sources informed that DBT is executing a programme to serve the aforesaid purpose. An official press release told the sources that the programme provides flexible long-term support for highly innovative research (both basic and translational in nature) in biotechnology.

The release added that DBT has planned to establish 50 such Centres of Excellence in Biotechnology in the country. So far, 15 Centres have been supported, covering healthcare, agriculture, bioinformatics and basic research in biotechnology, release told the sources. Besides, the release informed that these Centres of Excellence have been established in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

As per the release, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has also instigated a proposal to establish 50 Centres for Training and Research in the frontier areas of Science and Technology. Further, the release told that the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has launched Centres of Excellence at Hyderabad University, Bharathiar University, National Aerospace Laboratories, Calcutta University, IIT Mumbai and IIT Chennai.