Biocon Partners with KGI at developing a new cadre of life sciences professionals : Kiran Shaw

Biocon Unveils Biocon Academy – A Center of Excellence
for Advanced Learning in Applied Biosciences
To offer ‘Biocon KGI Certificate in Bio-Sciences’ in collaboration with
Keck Graduate Institute, USA

• Biocon Academy, an advanced learning initiative of Biocon aimed at developing high end talent for the biotech sector
• 16 week full time certificate program in Biosciences in collaboration with KGI
• Aimed at making biotech graduates employable through advanced learning and industrial training
• Program to offer nine modules: Molecular Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical Development; Biopharmaceutical Quality Assurance & Control; CMC Regulations of Pharmaceuticals; Introduction to US FDA and European Laws & Regulations; Fermentation Principles; Mammalian Cell Biotechnology; Bioseparation Engineering &Science and the Professional Skills Development
• KGI faculty, subject matter experts from Biocon and the industry
• Biocon to offer a scholarship of 75% of the course fee to meritorious students
• Job opportunity at Biocon and other leading biotech companies of the world
Bengaluru, India: November 11, 2013

Biocon, Asia’s leading biotechnology enterprise, today announced the setting up of the Biocon Academy, a one-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence for Advanced Learning in Applied Bio-Sciences.

Biocon Academy – an initiative by Biocon – aims to train and develop industry-ready talent for India’s Biopharma sector and enable global competitiveness.The Academy will offer advanced learning in Biosciences that will provide the required proficiency for enhanced career prospects in biotechnology for engineering and science graduates. It will connect the industry and academia to maximize the opportunities for aspiring biotechnologists and to address the skill deficit of the sector.

The Academy’sflagship program in collaboration with Keck Graduate Institute, California,the ‘Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences,’ is being opened for enrolments today, for the January 2014 session. The deadline for online application submission is December 6, 2013.

KGI is a premier American graduate institution,devoted solely to bioscience education and discovery. Their training and education programs have built a very strong capability in the US and it is through this partnership that we hope to emulate the success of KGI learning model in India.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon, said, “Biocon is pleased to partner with KGI in its new training initiative, the Biocon Academy, aimed at developing a new cadre of life sciences professionals. KGI is uniquely qualified, through its outstanding faculty and its state-of-the-art infrastructure that includes the AmgenBioprocessing Center, to help us with this endeavor. Given the growing stature of India’s life sciences industry, both Biocon and the Indian life sciences sector as a whole will benefit greatly from this collaboration.”

She added, “Biocon Academy aims to bring world class training programs for biotech students in India through customized programs like the Biocon KGI Certificate program in Biosciences and make them employable. In keeping with our commitment to affordability and greater access, Bioconwill offer a merit scholarship of 75% of the course fee for all the meritorious students selected through an intensive selection process.”

Sheldon M. Schuster, President, Keck Graduate Institute, said, “We are very proud to be working in partnership with Biocon to develop a unique educational experience for students and scientists who want to develop skills for working in a complex, global, highly regulated industry, one that that has tremendous capacity to improve lives. Through our collaboration with the scientists and subject matter experts at Biocon, KGI has developed an applied, graduate level curriculum that will be focused on teamwork and will reflect current industry dynamics. Graduates with the Biocon Academy-KGI certificate in Bioscience will have added skills that will help them to be immediate contributors as employees.”

He added, ”KGI faculty will deliver courses synchronously to students at the Biocon Academy facility using highly developed technology, supported by experts in the life sciences industry at Biocon. Set up in Bangalore, Biocon Academy will provide the biotech industry the best professionals with the right orientation and training — thus leading the way in transforming the industry and the community.”

The evolving science in the biotech sector is leading to a demand for high-skilled jobs in India. However, a wide gap currently exists between the quality of human capital available and the needs of the industry. Biocon Academy will focus on developing the spirit of experimentation, application of knowledge and the innovation skills of the Bioscientists in India, to make them employable in the biotech sector.

India’s Biotech industry is currently valued at about $11 billion, having grown at a CAGR of more than 20% over the last 10 years. At present, more than 40,000 biotech students pass out every year from over 725 institutions across the country. However, the lack of hands-on trainings and practical industry exposure prevents most of these students from unlocking their true potential and building a successful career in biotechnology.

As the leading Biotech Company, Biocon is in a position to lead the way in providing the biotech industry the best professionals with the right orientation and training. By collaborating with leading academic institutions globally, Biocon Academy aims to bring world class training programs for biotech students in India.

In keeping with Biocon’scommitment to affordability and greater access, the company will offer a merit scholarship that will cover up to 75% of the course fee for the meritorious students chosen through a rigorous selection process. Every selected student will be awarded Biocon scholarship to pursue this certificate program. In addition, Biocon will also assist the students to avail a study loan from reputed banks for the rest of the course fee.The first batch of upto 30 students will commence in January 2014.

About the Biocon KGI Certificate Program in Biosciences:

This 16-week, full-time program will leverage the industry leadership strengths of Biocon and the academic vigour of KGI to benefit participants and make them readily employable.

Those with a BE/B.Tech in Biotechnology / Industrial Biotechnology; MSc. in Biotechnology / Microbiology / Biochemistry / Biology; and B. Pharm with a CGPA of 7.5 (71 percentage) and above are eligible to apply for the course.

The program has three key components; Technical Course modules, Professional skills module and industrialexpert mentorship module.

We strongly believe that this program will bring about a transformation in students by training them in Molecular Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical Development; Biopharmaceutical Quality Assurance & Control; CMC Regulations of Pharmaceuticals; Introduction to US FDA & European Laws and Regulations; Fermentation Principles; Mammalian Cell Biotechnology;Bioseparation Engineering &Science and the Professional Skills Development.

In addition to technical sessions and classroom assignments from KGI, students will get hands-on experience at various facilities of Biocon. While focusing on the technical skill development, the course will also provide an opportunity for students to hone their professional skills through dedicated training.

This contemporary industry-oriented course curriculum is designed to prepare students with the skills needed to succeed as employees at Biocon and other leading biotech companies of the world.