Odisha targets production of Covaxin by June 2022

Bhubaneswar, May 6: The construction of vaccine production unit has started at Adhrua in Bhubaneswar. The required statutory clearances and permissions have also been granted for setting up the unit.   This was known from State level Bio-Tech implementation committee meeting held on digital mode under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra from Lokseva Bhawan wherein Secretary Science and Technology Manoj Mishra outlined the administrative and financial issues for discussion. Reviewing the Progress made so far, Chief Secretary Mahapatra directed to expedite construction of the anchor vaccine production unit and laying of other critical infrastructure.  Target was set to start the production of vaccine including Covaxin by June, 2022. Mahapatra also directed the department to set up a professional directorate of Bio-Technology for having a focused and fastened approach towards incubation and setting up new industries in the sector. Secretary Science and Technology Manoj Mishra appraised, “Government have made provisions for extending different incentives to biotech incubation and startups in shape of the land allotment, exemption of stamp duty, land conversion, training subsidy, capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy etc. under Odisha Biotechnology Policy of 2018. The extension of subisisdies needs to be managed professionally for optimizing the outcomes. It was decided that  from the view points of the ‘ease of doing business’ the institutional mechanism of IPICOL and Industries department would be authorized to monitor implementation of these subsidies till operationalization of a dedicated professional directorate of Biotechnology. Around Rs.15 cr rupees were allocated under the ‘Fund of Funds’ of MS& ME department for providing equity support to the incubating units in Biotechnology sector. Chairman and Managing Director IDCO Sanjay Singh appraised that IDCO has created a State of the Art O Hub  incubation center near Infocity, Bhubaneswar. Sri Singh also said that two floors with around 28 thousand sq ft space can be made available in this center for incubation facilities. It was decided to further develop the center with modern facilities and house the incubation units of MS & ME, IT and Biotechnology in the same building so as to create an advanced and mutually-boosting eco-system of incubation. Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed to decide the reasonable time period of extension of benefits like subsidized accommodation and other facilities in the incubation center for one unit. Available data show that the startups in Odisha are doing well and many of them have already acquired patent of their innovations. As of now around 775 startups are operating in various incubation centers out of whom around 65 incubates have acquired patent, trade mark and copy writ etc. Around 75 startups are incubating in biotech and health sector. The anchor vaccine unit at Andhrua is being set up through Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL).  The company has experience of producing improved vaccines against severe rotavirus diarrhea, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, pandemic influenza and drug resistant staphylococcus aureus. The unit at Andharua of Bhubaneswar is scheduled to produce ten types of vaccines including malaria and Covid vaccine.