The first edition of the “Hyderabad Life Science Innovation Cluster Meeting” held at Genome Valley

Hyderabad, February 23, 2023: Rx Propellant and Federation of Asian Biotechnology Associations (FABA) in association GV Connect and the National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (NARFBR), organized a full day event at Genome Valley aimed at promoting and improving collaboration and networking between researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals. 

The first edition of the marque event “Hyderabad Life Science Innovation Cluster Meeting” was held at the National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (NARFBR), Genome Valley, Hyderabad on 23rd February 2023. It saw participation from over 200 delegates from Industry and Academia with engaging sessions themed around building a cohesive ecosystem to boost Lifesciences Innovation through combined efforts of Industry and Academia. 

The event provided a platform for academic institutions, industries, and startups, to promote a vibrant Life Science innovation ecosystem and explore collaborations in the Pharma and Biopharma Sectors. Institutions and universities showcased their infrastructure, expertise, and technologies to the industry, and the industry presented their ongoing programmes and potential areas for collaboration.

This cluster meeting included formal presentations by leaders from academic institutions and industry partners along with panel discussions on topic of mutual interest and come up with recommendations to foster collaborations and drive innovation in the field of Life science.

Lifesciences industry is one of the most research-intensive sectors, with a high degree of specialization and technical expertise required to deliver lifesaving therapies. Collaboration between industry and academia is critical to developing new treatments, technologies, and products that have the potential to improve health outcomes and drive India’s economic growth. Academia provides the foundational research, a steady stream of novel technologies, insights, and ideas to drive innovation while industry can provide the resources and expertise needed to translate the research into commercially viable products. 

Hyderabad is fast emerging as one of the top Lifesciences innovation destinations not only in the country but also in Asia. Well known for its global presence in manufacturing and supplying of affordable bulk drugs and vaccines, Hyderabad also has a rich ecosystem of Contract Research Organizations supporting drug discovery and development endeavours for global companies. 

Hyderabad has some of the finest academic and research institutions, universities and top-most talents driving the growth of the Lifesciences industry. There are over 18 universities, (including State, Central and Deemed) and over 30 institutions of national importance, focusing on teaching and research in cutting-edge areas. In addition, Hyderabad also hosts more than 20 incubation centres promoting the start-up ecosystem.

On the occasion, Ketki Tulpule, Vice President, Rx Propellant, said, “Hyderabad’s Life sciences ecosystem has established itself on the world map, thanks to the presence of prominent companies, research institutes and universities. Our endeavour, especially through our networking platform GVConnect, is to further strengthen the ecosystem by bringing together thought-leaders and decision-makers. This flagship cluster meeting in Genome Valley will pave way for action-oriented plans to create a more collaborative environment for talent skilling, start-ups nurturing and strategic partnerships.” 

Atin Tomar, Founder and CEO, Yapan Bio said, “Industry and Academia are critical components of Lifesciences innovation engine. A profound partnership between them is essential to fuel innovation in the field. This initiative by Rx Propellant and FABA provides much-needed platform for the two to come together and collaborate to drive the development of new products and technologies for the global markets. There is no better place in India than Genome Valley, with unparalleled ecosystem for Lifesciences research, development, and manufacturing, to make it a reality.” 

Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, Indian Immunological Ltd. said, “Extremely glad to be a part of Hyderabad Life Sciences Innovation Cluster meet organized by Rx Propellant & FABA. Hyderabad is home to many globally reputed academic institutions and has a mature vaccine/biotech industry. Our country has moved up many places in Global Innovation Index, but this is just the beginning of bigger milestones we can achieve. The industry academia collaboration is essential for Innovation. We must come together to find innovative and sustainable solutions to improve human health and quality of life.” 
 

Prof. B J Rao, Vice-chancellor, University of Hyderabad said, “Hyderabad Life Science Innovation Cluster (HLSIC) is one of the most unique gatherings of talent, profile, and innovation pools in the country. India is being looked upon by the Global community as a "hot spot" for future innovation and growth activities that at the same time can keep the cost and eco-footprint down to minimum. HLSIC has taken the crucial task of binding the academia with industry and society at large in the mammoth activity of translating knowledge into societal wealth. University of Hyderabad (UoH) is glad to be a participant in HLSIC and we hope to see it scaling great heights in its endeavours.” 

Genome Valley, which is India’s first systematically developed R&D Cluster offers the ideal location for academic-industry collaboration in the life sciences industry. Spread over 2000 acres it has developed as a cluster for industries focusing on biomedical research and is home to more than 200 companies with a scientific workforce of about 15,000 professionals. The cluster is a significant contributor to the Indian biotech and life sciences industry, accounting for over 30% of the country's biotech revenue. Offering a conducive mix of state-of-the-art infrastructure and a supportive ecosystem that provides the necessary environment for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, Genome Valley was the first-choice venue for organizing the first edition of “Hyderabad Life Science Innovation Cluster Meeting”.