Round-table Meeting with Heads of Pharma Companies

Letter to Centre on Establishing a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Education and Research in KWIN City: M. B. Patil

Bengaluru: To bolster the growth of the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in the State, the Central Government must sanction a National Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences Education and Research (NIPER). The State Government is ready to allocate land for this institute in the proposed KWIN City. A formal letter will be sent to the Centre, and discussions will follow, said Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M. B. Patil, on Monday.

He was speaking at a round-table meeting organised at a private hotel here with the heads of pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing companies.

The Minister shared these details based on suggestions from pharma industry leaders. Many industrialists pointed out that Karnataka’s robust pharmaceutical ecosystem enables the State to compete not only with neighbouring States but also with China. Responding to their views, the Minister assured that the Government would extend all necessary support to companies looking to invest.

He informed industry representatives that significant land parcels were available for development within the Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor—360 acres in Tumakuru, 850 acres in Mulavada (Phase I and 2), 763 acres in Kadachuru (Yadagiri district), and 764 acres in Yadgurki (Chitradurga district). In addition, 1,000 acres each in Srinivaspura (Kolara) and Chamarajanagara had been earmarked for pharmaceutical parks. He encouraged pharmaceutical companies to invest and establish units in these locations.

Industrialists have pointed out challenges such as the lack of housing, schools, hotels and proper access roads in certain areas. “The companies investing outside Bengaluru would receive attractive incentive packages. The officials have been instructed to permit residential/school facilities within CA sites in industrial areas. The Government is also exploring educational infrastructure on the lines of the C-CAMP model. Staff, have been trained to issue approvals quickly under the single-window clearance system. These improvements would be visible within the next six months,” he assured.

The Minister highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical manufacturing, stressing that it must be embraced. Continuous skill development and research must not be disrupted, he added. He also suggested that the pharma sector convene a meeting every six months to stay updated with new technologies and trends.

Patil pointed out that industries in Karnataka pay only ₹50 per kilolitre of water, whereas neighbouring States have raised the rate to ₹120. To reduce operational costs, he recommended that companies in industrial areas set up common effluent treatment plants instead of maintaining individual ones.

Those present at the round-table included Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Industries Department; Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner; Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk; Srinivas, CFO, Bharat Biotech; Aniraj Bagaria, CEO, Kemwell Biopharma; Sridevi Kambampati, CEO, Shilpa Biologicals; and Dr K. Anil from Biocon, among others.