Biotech Industry face manpower shortage

Bangalore, Feb 16 (UNI) The flourishing Biotech industry, which witnessed a astounding growth rate of more than 30 per cent during the last three years, might face a break in its accelerated growth with manpower shortage acting as a spoilsport growth.

The Industry which was expected to move beyond five billion US dollars by 2010 and touch 25 billion dollars by 2015 is likely to face a acute shortage of trained manpower, according to an industry survey carried out by BioSpectrum, a Cybermedia Group of publication, in its latest issue.

The study indicated that India produce about 8000 fresh biotech post graduates and graduates annually with over 200 Colleges offering specialised courses. The current pool of scientific manpower engaged in the biotech industry, estimated by BioSpectrum magazine to be 15,000 is expected to grow four fold to touch 60,000 by 2010.

The study pointed to a huge gap between the industry's expectations and availability of quality manpower. Union Biotechnology Secretary M K Bhan commenting on the shortage said ''We failed in creating the human resources. We are way down in numbers. I see that as the biggest challenge. We can build many centers but there must be institutional leadership''.

According to him the biotech institutes need a new kind of drive and excitement. The old system and structure was not sufficient.

Though India's science budget was growing at 30 per cent annually, it could grow much faster if there was a demand by the new structure, he added while urging the scientific community to reach out for more.

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