Singapore: The executive council of the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE), the apex body of the biotech sector in India, announced that entries for its prestigious biotech (BT) innovation awards will be accepted until January 15, 2013 from Indian as well as global biotech innovators. The finalists for the best BT innovations will be shortlisted in February and the winners will be awarded at ABLE's tenth anniversary planned for March 11 in New Delhi.

India was rated 47 in its biotech innovation abilities in an international survey earlier this year following which ABLE India planned and created a platform to recognize and award the best work by biotech professionals from India as well as globally to instill the significance of biotech innovations by institutionalizing 'Best Biotech Innovations of the 21st Century (2001 - 2012)'. Entries in 15 categories for biotech innovations are being invited and the best innovations will be shortlisted based on various parameters. A jury panel comprising of national and International experts will select the Awardees.

Ms Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, CMD, Biocon, and member, National Innovation Council of India, said, "Through ABLE's Best Biotech Innovations Award, we aim to provide a platform for biotech scientists and others to showcase their innovative solutions that can truly address some of the major challenges the world is facing today in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, energy security, education and others. I am confident through this platform we will be able to identify some great innovations which will possibly have a much wider application, going forward."

The various categories for the competition include biologics, bioagriculture, biofuels, clean technology, bioInformatics, regenerative medicine, public-private initiatives, investments and financing, diagnostics, medical devices, omics, regulations and acts, promotion and advocacy by governments or private associations, training and skill development, and synthetic biology.