The State of Uttar Pradesh, a vital hub of scientific activities endowed with rich biological resources and rich biodiversity has the unique distinction of having a number of research institutions, which have expertise and capabilities in biotechnology. In view of this, Lucknow was declared as the Biotechnology City of India during the 89th session of the Indian Science Congress on January 3, 2002. These institutions are providing a great impetus and support in the development of Biotech Park. The park in turn provides incubator facilities to these institutes and entrepreneurs to perfect the facility, up scale the products and even produce small quantity for testing and quality control.

For the initial phase - Health Care: Human and animal health care products including therapeutic aids, immuno-diagnostics, biosensors, vaccines, gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, neutraceuticals and cosmetics, Agriculture: Improvement in the quality and yield of crops, horticulture and forest tree species, biopesticides and biofertilizers, processed food and quality enhancers, Environment: Bioremediation, safe disposal of waste, Industrial Application: Plants as bioreactors, enzymes, chemicals and polymers and Energy: Bio fuels, renewable energy sources have been identified as thrust areas.

The Biotech industries in comparison to conventional industries neither require large space and resources nor do they generate large effluents or emission. They are “Green Industries”. Therefore it has been decided to setup GLP/GMP complaint facilities having a Technology Incubation Centre with laboratory modules, common instrumentation facilities, biobusiness support centre, up scaling/processing of plant based lead molecules, tissue culture facility, pilot plants for biopesticides / biofertilizers, hardening and macropropagation facilities, diagnostic development facility. The park would have common facilities for storage, common effluent treatment plant, incinerator and waste disposal system.

Construction work of the labs have been completed and setting up of the equipments are in process. Bioinformatics Centre supported by DBT and CSIR was initially set up at Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, has already start functioning. This Centre has established links with various institutions working in the area of Biotechnology and Biosciences; U.P. Council of Science and Technology; UPSIDC; CII etc. and has its website (http://www.biotechpark.org.in). The centre is now house at Biotech Park and has been regularly organising training programes. So far 27 training programmes have been held and around 600 persons have been trained in basics of Bioinformatics.