Asia’s largest technology event, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2022, was held from 16th Nov to 18th Nov 2022 at the Bangalore Palace. With the theme ‘Tech4NexGen’, the 25th edition of BTS 2022 was inaugurated by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi. The event witnessed the coming together of global health-tech leaders and young next-gen startups in the Biotechnology field, among others.
Here’s what happened in the field of Biotech at BTS 2022.
Biotech at BTS 2022
With a dedicated track for Biotech among five other parallel tracks, BTS shed light on the emerging Biotech field. With collaboration with Australia to open a consulate, new biotech product launches, etc., Biotech shone in the limelight.
Biotechnology is rapidly becoming an emerging trend in the health tech sector and holds immense scope for the future of healthcare. To make the most of it, several startups launched their biotech products at BTS 2022.
- Faunatech Solutions launched Fauna—a novel smartphone-based handheld diagnostics platform for early detection of critical diseases, monitoring cattle health and screening milk quality at the farm level, and reducing antibiotic usage.
- CareNX Innovations launched Fetosense—a smartphone-enabled Foetal Heart Rate (FHR) monitoring device to perform Non-stress Test (NST) and CardioTocoGraphy (CTG) Tests to identify prematurity at early stages.
- Nanosafe Solutions launched NSafe mask—India’s first copper-treated antimicrobial mask, reusable for 50 washes, with filtration standards certified by South India Textile Research Association (SITRA).
- Samasti Health Technologies launched Svasthya—a remote clinical decision assistance platform that provides health equity by connecting the right doctors to the patients for timely medical intervention, clinical assessment, triage and care coordination with referral pathways.
- Aikenist Technologies, a Med-Tech startup that provides Innovative and Patented quick Scan technology, launched a Quick suite of solutions to reduce the end-to-end time for Radiology and make it convenient, faster and affordable.
- RootsGoods launched its AGRI Quality Assessment Product, an AI and Deep tech-based quality assessment platform for crops post-harvest.
- Labezy launched a cancer screening device that uses a trans illumination method to screen breast cancer.
- ibloom launched an innovative IoT device for the prognosis of a heart attack at home using doctor-assisted AI and drone delivery of first-aid AED defibrillator devices at home.
- Theranautilus launched Theradrive and Magnetic nanobots that reach the depths within dentinal tissues to ensure thorough cleaning of teeth and prevent root canal failure.
Topics covered by the biotech track at BTS 2022
Genomics revolution 2.0 and its implications:
Session on advancements in molecular diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, gene editing and agricultural biology and how researchers can improve the quality of life and reorganise healthcare, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries.
Smart supply chains in Biopharma:
Session on how effective supply chain management is essential in cost, asset and customer management.
Gene editing and agriculture:
Session on the potential of crop genome editing in promoting the development of novel crops, allowing for gains in production and pest resistance for climate change adaptation, and industrial and medicinal uses.
One Health and pandemic prevention:
Session on One Health approach. An approach to global health and humanitarian assistance that focuses on preventing diseases, improving public health and protecting the environment. Having direct implications on international development policy, it helps governments to prioritise resources for effective response to health crises.
The future of genomic medicine:
Session on the potential of genomic medicine and its capabilities to cure genetic disease, make customised medicines based upon patient genomic makeup and the recent advancements in the field.
Bio Industrial to boost BioEconomy:
Session on how biotechnology can help farmers produce more on under-cultivation land by breeding crops that efficiently absorb nutrients from the soil at lower costs.
Future of BioTech:
Session on the scope of Biotech in the field of medicine and industrial growth.
Cell and gene therapy:
Session on the advancement of cell and gene therapy and its potential to manipulate a patient’s cells for disease treatment.
The biotech event had four sessions and saw the participation of health-tech leaders and subject matter experts from Illumina, Strand Life Sciences, MedGenome Labs Ltd, C-Camp InDx, Ingram Micro, Anthem, and Agrigenome Labs.
Besides the discussion of innovation and collaboration, the following topics held key focus:
- Historical perspectives and future development on mRNA
- ‘Lab2Market’ display of India’s premier R&D institutes
- Efficient utilisation of funding to achieve greater success.
- Investing in NextGen MedTech for better health management and patient safety.
- Vaccine Equity in all countries is based on their requirements and regardless of their economic condition.
- Advancement in cellular immunotherapy to strengthen the immune system.
- Moving from primary to secondary agriculture to achieve long-term development goals.
- Development in industrial biotechnology to manufacture goods for better healthcare management with fewer resources and less power.
Honourable Personalities at Bio-tech Conference Committee
- Dr Vijay Chandru, Co-Founder & Director, Strand Life Sciences
- Dr Shrikumar Suryanarayan, Chairman and co-founder, Sea6 Energy
- Dr P. M. Murali, Chairman & Managing Director, Jananom
- Dr K.K. Narayanan, Founder and Chairman, Kottaram Agro Foods
- Dr Taslimarif Saiyed, Director & Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)
- Dr. H S Subramanya, Director, IBAB & bio_1con Chair Institute of bio_1informatics and Applied bio_1technology (IBAB)
- Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of Bangalore bio_1innovation Centre, Dept of IT, BT and S&T, Govt of Karnataka
- Mr G. S. Krishnan, Hon. President, ABLE Regional President, India, Novozymes South Asia Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru
- Dr Mahesh Bhalgat, Chief Operating Officer Syngene International Limited
- Dr Vishal Rao U S, Director – Head Neck Surgical Oncology & Robotic Surgery Dean – Centre of Academics & Research
- Smt. Meena Nagaraj C.N, IAS, Managing Director Department of IT BT and KITS, GoK
The challenges posed by the pandemic and remarkable collaborations in vaccine research and development paved the way for biotechnology towards the limelight. Bengaluru Tech Summit 2022 moved the needle forward by bringing together industry leaders, top research think tanks, academics and policymakers from around the world to explore new horizons in biotech research and business.
