Biotechnology: Academia to Industry

International Conference on Biotechnology:  Academia to Industry (ICB – 2023) was held in Kathmandu from March 17 – 19, 2023. Nepal Biotechnology Association organised the programme with the theme ‘to pave out the way for application of biotechnology from academia to industry’.

Dr Sanduk Ruit, the most contributing ophthalmic experts credited for 180,000 persons to get eye sight and decorated with prestigious awards inaugurated the international conference. On the occasion, he elaborated the how Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology initiated the eye sights to bring back and contribution to society with cheap and best technology developed in Nepal and provided many developing countries. The experts and professionals participating in this occasion will contribute to biotechnology to enhance further in human benefits.

Senior neurosurgeon Dr. Basant Panta said that biotechnology had contributed extensively to the health science so far. Nepal Government should allocate more budget for research and development in this regards, he added. However, experts and medico are doing better even with limited budget size, he informed.

Conference coordinator Dr. Biajaya Panta said that biotechnology has been utilised in innovation of agriculture, medicine, environment conservation, industries and food technology sectors. So as biotechnology also needs to link to industries and this event will be successful in linking to industries as well, she opined.

President of Nepal Biotechnology Association Prof. Dr. Tri Bikram Bhattarai said that the conference is providing platform to the experts and professionals from home and abroad to exchange knowledge and experiences.

Dr. Ruit released a publication of the association on the occasion.

Around 200 experts and professionals different 12 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Qatar, South Korea,, Thailand and Nepal.

Biotechnology is based on the advancement in biological science and it is used in product development and industrial production as well as in service industries. Biotechnology, in the form of traditional fermentation techniques, has been used since human civilization to make food and beverage like bread, cheese, yogurt, wine, beer, etc. The advancement in molecular biology and biochemistry started modern biotechnology which has opened its novel applications in agriculture, medicine, environment protection, industry, and also in criminal justice. Modern biotech industries making biotechnological products have created unprecedented opportunities that benefit mankind not only by manipulating biological systems but also by undertaking studies to understand fundamental life processes. It is a technology of the 21st century, which is rapidly advancing and helping in the rapid economic development.

Industrial countries and some developing countries have already benefited from the advancement in Biotechnology producing more environmentally friendly products from plants, animals, and microorganisms; producing cost-effective new pharmaceuticals; using more efficient disease diagnosis and treatment; effective criminal investigation methods, etc.

Biotechnology industries are knowledge-based industries. A country with well-trained manpower having novel ideas and skills in this field can get benefit from this new technology. Nepal is always late in getting economic benefits from modern technology only because we are late to import the knowledge timely. To reap the benefit of modern biotechnology we should not be late. Nepal Biotechnology Association (NBA) was established in 1988 and working by its activities to motivate students to get knowledge in biotechnology and the government and public to use this technology for national development. Now it is high time to produce skilled manpower in the country and provide ample opportunities to them to serve the country in increasing agricultural production, health benefit, and industrialization of the country.

The contribution of students of Biotechnology especially in the diagnosis of COVID 19 infection in Nepal is praised by the society, which has helped to work against the COVID 19 pandemic. NBA from its inception is engaged in different activities organizing seminars and conferences in Biotechnology regularly, publishing the Journal of NBA, and organizing talk programs from national and international experts. Its members and executive are committed to the development of biotechnology in Nepal and hope with our activities we can contribute to the academic and economic development of Nepal. Nepal Biotechnology Association (NBA) is the country’s first non-profit professional association with the mission statement “Serve the Nation Through Biotechnology.” The NBA principally concentrates on cutting-edge biotechnological discoveries for the nation’s progress in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceuticals, the environment, business, and related biotechnology disciplines.