Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation to boost bio-medical business

KOCHI: The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) is set to promote the Life Sciences Park at Veiloor in Thiruvananthapuram which has been in a state of hibernation for long. The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) will lead the charge by establishing a bio-medical equipment unit which will focus on research and production in bio-medical equipment. The unit which will come up on 10 acres will boost the activities of SCTIMST which is already into the production of blood bag, membrane oxygenator, hydrocephalus shunts, artificial heart valve, dental materials, hydroxyapatite-based materials and implants.

The KSIDC will also help set up a finishing school for bio-technical professionals who lack the desired skills in getting employed with top companies across the globe. The SCTIMST school will come up near the bio-medical equipment unit. “SCTIMST may start the school at its facility at Poojappura itself now and it will be relocated to the Life Sciences Park facility later,” said KSIDC chairman Christy Fernandez. The KSIDC will set up a research and incubation hub on five acres in the park which will have both dry lab and wet lab facilities. “The tender for the same is being finalized,” he added.

“The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) too will set up an animal house in the park so that animals for biological and pharmaceutical experiments can be bred and sold to units,” he added. “Currently, the Life Sciences Park is spread over 75 acres and we propose to acquire 100 more acres for it. In the existing area, land is being demarcated for units on 30-year lease. Interested companies in the research and production in sectors such pharmaceutical, biotechnology, bio-services, bio-informatics, neutraceuticals, diagnostics and bio-medical equipment will be given land on this term,” he added.