Biotechnology in BangaloreReflections on a decade of debate

Ian Scoones STEPS Centre, Institute of Development Studies,

University of Sussex, UK

Bangalore: ‘the knowledge economy capital’

2002: hype and hope

• Rapid economic growth and technology-led industrialisation (notably IT sector)

• Competition between Indian states – and Chief Ministers - for foreign investment

• Bangalore pitched as a ‘knowledge hub’ for biotechnology, linking public and private science

• Substantial political (and economic) backing from State government (Vision Group, policy etc.)

Policy narratives

• From IT to BT…. State support for new investments in biotech industry (mostly small start-ups doing contract research for US/European biotech companies)

• From the Green Revolution to the Gene Revolution…. GM crops (Bt cotton) to help solve the cost constraint problems of agriculture. Joint public-private efforts, including State Ag University, Monsanto etc.

Bangalore and biotech

Examples R and D focus R and D Interactions

Elite science

IISc, NCBS Basic biology US/European universities

Public science

UAS Tissue culture, some transgenics

Contract research for Monsanto

Start up companies

Avesthagen,Metahelix,Strand Genomics

Genomic databases for Marker Assisted Selection

Contract research for seed companies, Monsanto etc.

Established local bio/agri- companies

Rallis, Biocon

Transgenics; seed development; genomics platforms

Internal R and D; limited joint research

TNCs Monsanto Transgenics; Pest management and cotton

Internal company interactions; contracting out

Innovation and development

• Excellence model

• Cluster and hub model

• Public private partnerships model

2002-12 - Six challenges to the vision

Science

• New developments (genomics/informatics),• Transgenics hurdles • Few big-hit patents• Revised science-business model

Business

From start-up to emergent majors, through global alliances

2003-04 2010-11Serum Institute Biocon

Biocon Serum Institute

Panacea Biotec Panacea BiotecNovo Nordisk Nuziveedu Seeds

Venkateshwara Hatcheries Reliance Life Sciences

Bharat Serums Quintiles India

Aventis Pharma NovoNordisk

Eli Lilly Co Rasi Seeds

Chiron Behring Vaccines Mayhco

GSK Transasia

Indian Immunologicals Ankur SeedsMayhco Monsanto Syngene International

Novozymes Bharat Biotech

Shanta biotechnics Indian Immunologicals

Wockhardt Krishidan Seeds

Politics

• The state and economic development. • The diminishing influence of the biotech-

science elite?

Poverty and development

• Bt cotton spread, but who benefits? • Inequalities in the new (bio)economy• Inclusive innovation

Civil society action

• Public action and protest• Public interest litigation, court cases and

media

Regulation

• Risk, uncertainty and public disquiet • An acceptance of a more precautionary stance?

The future?4 issues....

• Beyond transgenics• The Mysore model and state capitalism• Inclusive innovation – S and T for

development• Publics, precaution and regulation