Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) In a bid to drive innovation and create more jobs in the area of biotechnology, the government Wednesday approved legislation to establish a regional centre for biotechnology training and education.

The decision to set up the centre, under UNESCO, was taken in the cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to a statement, the step was taken keeping in mind that modern biotechnology has been recognised globally as a rapidly advancing science where molecular techniques and process are employed to develop healthcare solutions for human and animal sector, for agriculture and environment technologies.

“… the centre proposes to engage students in research by integrating science, engineering and medicine with a view to create high quality human resource in disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas,” the statement said.

“Further, the centre would also create physical infrastructure in critical platform technologies to support interdisciplinary education training and research in biotechnology for providing interface between agriculture or veterinary sciences and engineers and environmental biologists, ecologists and engineers for agricultural and environmental technologies in order to help molecular breeding, bio-energy and green technologies,” it added.

This, the government said, will help in producing human resources tailored to drive innovation in biotechnology, particularly in areas of new opportunities and also to fill the talent gap in deficient areas.

“The centre would also cater to designing novel programmes for education and training which could then be assimilated by the universities in India and in the region,” it added.

“The bill provides for laying the annual report and annual accounts together with the audit report in both houses of the parliament,” the statement added.