LAHORE (Saturday, March 28): A mini-workshop was held at Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) and Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB) to discuss the ways and means of bringing Academia and Industry into a mutually beneficial collaboration. The workshop was participated by twelve eminent industrialists, five public representatives and twenty-five eminent academicians under the Chairmanship of Mr. Muhammad Kashif Murtaza, Federal Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology.

Dr. Riazuddin introduced the workshop and defined a road map from the concept of a project in a research laboratory to the development of product that eventually reaches the general public and emphatically pointed out that whereas both the academia and industry were working very hard in their own domains, there was no effective linkage to ensure a smooth flow on the proposed road map. The missing link was identified as scaling up of the products and processes developed in the university laboratory. He pointed out that several scientists in his own laboratories and in other universities in the country had successfully developed products/ processes of national economic importance however, they have reached the public because of lack of infrastructure to skill them up to a commercial level that the industry could profitably use them. His presentation was followed by a brain storming discussion session in which Medipak, Ferozesons, Cirin Pharmaceuticals, Hi-Warble and Chemical House, actively participated and also pointed out that there was complete lack of government incentive and support. The industry highlighted that the present government policies were, in fact, if anything not helpful to the industry, these policies encouraged import from outside and that was another very important factor in commercializing indigenous research. The meeting ended with a set of recommendation to the government which included tax incentives, incentives for locally produced products. The house unanimously recommended that all those products and processes developed through local R&D should be exempt from taxes for at least 10 years.

To ensure an effective linkage between university research and industry, the Federal Secretary Science and Technology declare to establish a nucleus Biotech Park at Centre namely “Centre for Commercialization of Molecular Biology” which will initially develop interferons alpha, beta and gamma and other similar important pharmaceutical compounds and agricultural products such as Bt cotton, Bt maize and hybrid vegetable seeds. The newly established Centre for Commercialization of Molecular Biology (CCMB) will be managed by a “Management Board” including membership both from academia and industry.

Several eminent industrialists signed agreements with the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology and Centre for Applied Molecular Biology to engage in mutually beneficial endeavours to commercialize pharmaceuticals and agricultural products for the benefit of the general public. This is the first major partnership between public institution and a private industry and if successful, will catalyze development of similar ties with other institutions and universities in the country.