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The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for establishment of a Regional Centre for Biotechnology Training and Education under the auspices of UNESCO sponsored by Deptt. of Biotechnology, Government of India and also gave its approval to implement the programme.
The objectives of the Regional centre are as follows :
a) Promotion of capacity building through education, training and research and development in biotechnology for sustainable development objectives through regional and international cooperation. This would include doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships; post graduate education and training at the M.Sc. level; short term and long term training courses and workshops; exchange visits; collaborative R & D networking programmes; establishment of a bio-informatics system; information dissemination; and specialized courses on biotechnology related IPR issue; bioethics; bio-safety etc.
b) Facilitation of transfer of knowledge and technology on biotechnology at the regional level.
c) Creation of a hub of biotechnology expertise in the SAARC Region, South East Asia and South Asia Sub-regions and to address human resources needs in these regions.
d) Creation of a network of satellite centers in these sub-regions.
e) Promotion and strengthening of south-south cooperation.
The functions of the Regional Centre shall be :
a) To execute educational and training activities to transfer knowledge in biotechnology.
b) To undertake research, development and scientific investigations in collaboration with relevant research centers in the region.
c) To hold scientific symposiums and conferences (regional and international) and to conduct short term and long-term training courses and workshops in all areas of biotechnology.
d) To collect universally available information with a view to setting up a data bank.
e) To collect and disseminate, through networking, the relevant local knowledge.
f) To publish and disseminate the outcomes of research activities in different countries through books, articles, etc.
g) To promote collaborative R & D networking programmes in specific areas of biotechnology and exchange and facilitate mobility of scientists at the regional level with due consideration for issues pertaining to intellectual property rights of collaborating institutions.
The Regional Centre would act as the focal point for cooperation amongst the Member States of the Asian Region in Biotechnology. The Center would provide linage amongst Indian institutions through network with biotechnology institutions in the region; support education and training of the students and scientists and develop joint R&D programmes.
This would help incur expenditure for hiring of the building, creation of the necessary infrastructure for starting the activities of the centre and sustenance during the subsequent years.
An estimated cost of Rupees 30.95 crores has been projected for five years for starting such a Centre with the modern teaching and training facilities in biotechnology. Once the Centre is established, efforts would be made to generate additional funds to supplement the core fund and other UN agencies / world bodies would also be requested to support training and education.
YSR/HK/LV
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