4-day meet on biotech frontiers begins at IICT

Tarnaka: Over 600 experts and delegates from various countries are expected to attend a four-day Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) Platinum Jubilee International Conference on “Biotechnological Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development (BioSD- 2018)” inaugurated by Dr Shekhar C Mande, the CSIR Director-General, at IICT here on Thursday.

The delegates got together to brainstorm on frontier areas of environmental biotechnology, medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, food and agricultural biotechnology and bio-energy to share current stock of knowledge. BioSD-2018 is being organised by CSIR-IICT in association with Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI) and International Bio-processing Association, an International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses (IBA-IFIBiop).

Dr Mande while releasing the souvenir and inaugurating the event acknowledged the accomplishments of CSIR in the areas of IT, space healthcare and agriculture for national benefits. He mentioned that biotech industries in the country were nurtured under the leadership of CSIR, and the contribution of IICT and CCMB in particular, for developing biotech eco-system. He noted how biotechnology changed lives of people over time in a sustainable manner. While appreciating BRSI for its constant efforts in developing biotech research, he advised budding scientists and young researchers to be prepared for upcoming revolutions by developing cutting-edge technologies, employing artificial intelligence and machine learning tools.

President of BRSI Prof T P Singh and BioSD 2018 Chair Dr. Ashok Pandey also spoke. Dr N V Satyanarayana presented a report. The BRSI awards were presented to outstanding achievers in biotechnology and sustainable development. Dr. S Venkat Mohan, convener, proposed a vote of thanks. Dr S Chandrasekhar, IICT Director, in his welcome address, deliberated on the outstanding research endeavours. He mentioned the institute’ s contribution to energy sector, pesticide industry, green revolution and healthcare sector have widely been acknowledged by the industry. He noted that several findings in generic drug discovery, including Zidovudine for HIV and many more, were initiated in the institute. He explained the institute’s role in automation chemistry for drug discovery, while assuring IICT’s commitment towards meeting the nation’s demands.