Dawn of New Era in Industrial Biotechnology

Online, June 16, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Jain University ushered in a new chapter in field of industrial biotechnology in Bangalore on 16th June 2014. Introducing a unique industry academia collaborative, Jain University Center for Post Graduate Studies launched MSc Industrial Biotechnology programme, in collaboration with industry partner Biozeen at the one day symposium organized at the Jayanagar 9th block campus. Padmashree Prof. M Vijayan, INSA Albert Einstein Professor Molecular Biophysics unit, IISC was the chief guest at the launch. Dr. Taslimariff, Director, COO C-CAMP, Bangalore, Mr. Jagadish Mittur from Biotechnology Facilitation Cell at KBITS, Mr. Vibin Joseph, Executive Director, BiOZEEN, Dr. C.G Krishnadas Nair, Chancellor Jain University, Dr. N. Sundararajan, Vice Chancellor Jain University and Dr. Sudha Deshmukh, Director, Center for Post Graduate Studies & Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Jain University are some of the dignitaries that attended the launch programme.

There is a gap between what the industrial biotechnology industry needs and what is being offered in academia. The MSc. Industrial Biotechnology offered by Jain University is an exclusive master's programme that bridges the academia industry gap. In a distinctive endeavour Jain University is collaborating with industry partner BiOZEEN, Bangalore Biotech Labs Pvt. Ltd. Pharmaceutical Services Company to offer an academic experience that will offer complete industrial exposure. Dr. Krishnadas Nair, Chancellor, Jain University discussed the great challenges and opportunities that this programme offers to move ahead and make contributions to Industrial Biotechnology. "There are many opportunities for research as well as research leading to commercialization. Encouraging entrepreneurial culture, Research and Development, innovation in business. This is where the importance of industry academia collaboration comes into being", he said.

Mr. R Raman from HLL Vaccine, Chennai delivered the key note address. Summing up the importance of universities joining forces with industry partners to offer students a more holistic course experience. Initiatives such as these encourage more constructive engagement. "University and industry are two sides of the same coin. Dissimilar but still integral to each other." He also expressed his appreciation for Jain University's commitment to develop not just good research scholars but to also developing entrepreneurs who can start new organizational set ups in research.

The chief guest Padmashree Prof. M Vijayan a man of innumerable achievements launched the MSc programme. He has been conferred with many notable national and international awards and honours. Addressing the gathering he said "the smiling face of young India pleases me to no end." Prof. Vijayan spoke about the diversity in the field of crystallography and about how the study of protein structures was central to the field of biology.

Prof. Vijayan said that our younger generation has access to much better research facilities and opportunities. Industry academia collaborations such as these will strengthen and encourage research in areas of industrial biotechnology in the country. Prof. Vijayan believes that we require a more holistic paradigm in our approach to industrial biotechnology. He said that Jain University's initiative to collaborate with industry interface would enable research students to achieve new feats, "We must temple the thought that we are yet to scale greater heights, the younger generation of today will conquer great heights as some of our great scientists of the past.", he added.