UNESCO biotechnology hub to come up in capital

New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) A UNESCO Regional Centre for Education and Training in Biotechnology will come up in the capital with the Science and Technology Ministry signing an agreement today with the world body for promotion of science.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and UNESCO Director- General Mciez Nalecz here.

The centre will be promoted as a regional hub for research with the participation of countries like Japan, China and Australia, Mr Sibal said.

According to Secretary (Biotechnology) Dr M K Bhan, Nobel laureates will be invited as visiting faculty to the centre, which will have students from Asia.

In addition to education and training, the centre will have strong research programmes in areas like nano-biotechnology, stem cell research, biosensors, environmental biotechnology and agriculture biotechnology, Dr Bhan said.

The broad plan for the centre, which will get an initial government allocation of Rs 50 crore, will be ready by February next year, Mr Sibal said.

The centre will offer post-graduate degrees besides doctoral and post-doctoral training, said Mr Nalecz.

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