Mashelkar bags lifetime achievement award for biotech

Bangalore, Dec 11 (UNI) BioSpectrum, India's first Biotech business magazine, a CyberMedia publication, today conferred the Life Time Achievement Award upon CSIR Director General Dr R A Mashelkar for excellence in biotechnology for over three decades.

Presenting the fourth edition biotech industry awards BioSpectrum Awards 2006 for various categories at a function here, the magazine noted that Dr Mashelkar had left his everlasting imprint in the Indian biotech sector by advising, motivating and removing various obstacles in the way of the biotech industry.

The BioSpectrum Biotech Leadership Award was presented to Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal as a recognition of the change he had tried to bring-in in the thinking in the science and technology environs in general and biotechnology in particular.

The BioSpectrum Person of the Year Award went to Attur-based Rasi Seeds Chairman and Managing Director M Ramasami for his efforts in bringing out quality Bt cotton hybrids, resulting in higher yields and lesser consumption of pesticides.

Avesthagen Founder and CEO Dr Villoo Morawala-Patell was presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for driving Avesthagen, one of India's hottest biotech companies, through an innovative business model which combined product development and services.

The Product of the Year Award went to Plasma Proteins category of products (AlbuRel, ImmunoRel, ReliSeal, HemoRel A and ReliPlasma), developed by the Mumbai-based Reliance Life Sciences. Plasma Proteins were used in critical life saving conditions and situations. Plasma proteins were almost entirely imported to India till Reliance Life Sciences launched the Plasma category of products in 2005.

Speaking on the occasion, BioSpectrum Editor N Suresh said ''it gives us immense pleasure to crown the champions of Indian Biotech industry. BioSpectrum has always endeavoured to promote talent in the area of biotech and shall continue doing so.'' The awards night began with a panel discussion on the biotech vision for 2015 and how to traverse this path.

The other awardees were city-based Biocon Ltd - BioIndustrial Company of the Year Award, Pune-based Serum Institute of India - BioPharma Company of the Year Award, Quintiles India - BioServices Company of the Year Award, Mahyco Monsanto Biotech Ltd - BioAgri Company of the Year Award and Thermo Fischer Scientific - BioSupplier of the Year Award.

UNI RS GD SKB2012