Women as Biotechnology Entrepreneurs

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1 Women as Biotechnology Entrepreneurs Sudha Nair M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, India EC-US Task Force on Biotechnology Research Workshop A Global Look at Women s Leadership in Bitoech Research June 2009 San Francisco, California

2 Facts and Figures Last 5 yrs marginal improvement in Women s enrolment in Univ still lower by 20% than that of men Increased from 18.6% in to 20.4% in in science; Medicine 40%; in Ag,Vet Science, Engineering and Tech less then 25% 37% of PhDs in Science are women Students at IISC % and IIT less than 10%; Women in DBT/ICMR/ is above 25%; less than 25% in other institutes like CSIR; DRDO; lowest in ICAR and College of Horticulture in KAU more than 75% of the students of the scientists are women Bhatnagar since 1959 only 10 women; Nobel 513 only 11; Academies are very meager

3 Instruments To foster, promote and sustain the cultivation of sciences and scientific research in the country and to secure for the people all the benefits that can accrue from the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge. Scientific Policy Resolution (SPR) of 1958 To promote the empowerment of women in all science and technology activities and ensure their full and equal participation S&T Policy 2003

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5 Response A National Committee to. suggest ways and means to improve the visibility and effective participation of Women in Science

6 Areas to be Addressed Retention Recruitment Reentry R&D Recognition Reward Remuneration

7 Initiatives as examples Improving GER - to be eliminated by INSPIRE; SHE Reentry fellowships;career development pathways Incubator/tecno parks Recognition and rewards Affirmative policies Gender Cell.

8 Entrepreneurship as an option

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10 Support services Assessment and Counseling Project Identification Technology Sourcing Consultancy Advisory Services Escort Services Market linkages Training and capacity building

11 Dream Finders - Production of Herbal Cosmetics, Health and Home care products Elbitec Innovations Ltd - Manufacture of Agricultural Bioinputs Dorven Agro Eco Bio Ventures Pvt Ltd - Value addition to banana- banana based products and, other fruits & vegetables Sabees - Production of Instant Food Mixes in powder form and Masala mixes Farm Suzzane Pvt Ltd - Frozen/Cooked food processing unit Suvasa Aromaceutials - Blending of Essential Oils for use Aromatherapy application. Sandana Floral Extracts Pvt Ltd - Extraction of Jasmine and other floral concentrates O Lanche - Manufacture of Herbal Soaps. Madras Diabetic Research Centre - Research Centre and Training Institute Nouveau Dietitque Pvt Ltd - Production of Biotech based Medical/Functional food products Thiruvensun Bio botanica Pvt Ltd - Herbal Cosmetics and Home Care Asean Aromatics - Natural extractions TRC Hands on Training of Postgraduates/ Quality Control

12 Park at its full occupancy A model to showcase that entrepreneurship for women is a possible alternative provided it is enabled Such examples can be replicated by better partnership between the Universities/R&D and Financial Institutions

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14 Political will and public policy Invest judiciously into STI whereby the benefits are inclusive Map technical resources & identify pool of skilled resources Increased partnerships Incubators, Parks etc to enhance scale up of innovations Early Technology Development Fund Equity funding for technology leap frogging for innovations Venture capital Way Forward Single window clearing systems Other Sops tax moratorium etc

15 What the State can do Policy should be engendered Clear guidelines and set targets on a Mission mode A status report - disaggregated data A gender cell to audit/monitor/implement Adopt recommendations proactively

16 Utilizing all of our talents of Women in Science & Science for Women An inclusive approach in which they are not visualized as end users but as innovators too

17 Partnering them innovatively