KOCHI: The Kerala Management Association (KMA) and KSIDC will join hands to set up businesses in the life sciences sector in Kerala. Mr Christy Fernandez, chairman of KSIDC, and Mr Mathew Urumbath, KMA president, held discussions here the other day under which KMA will play the key role of mentoring and training those who venture into this sector using its available pool of experienced and talented members. To work out a detailed plan, the KMA has decided to set up a committee headed by its past presidents Jose Philip and K.N. Shastri. “We have over 2,000 experienced professionals as members. Many of them can handhold aspiring entrepreneurs in the field and help find angel investors in start-ups in the sector. Initially, we will do it voluntarily,” said Mr Mathew Urumbath.
“Kerala is blessed with a rich bio-diversity, human talent and entrepreneurs willing to invest, but Kerala’s share in the life sciences sector is only two percent of the national share. Lack of ownership of projects and assignments in this sector as well as the resistance from the academic institutions to interact with the industry is the reason for this failure,” said Mr Christy Fernandez. “There is immense scope for growth, wealth generation as well as employment generation in the biotechnology sector and we will join hands with anyone willing to assist in the commercialisation of technology in the life sciences industry,” he said.
