With no noticeable growth in the number of new biotech companies setting shop, unemployment rate among biotechnology students seems to be steadily rising.
According to estimates, there are more than 100 colleges and institutes in the state offering biotech courses. Together, they have more than 10,000 seats and churn out nearly 8,000 to 9,000 graduates every year. “But unlike IT and ITES sectors, biotechnology doesn’t hire in thousands. If they hire in hundreds, then it’s considered a huge company,” said P V Appaji, Executive Director, Pharmexcil, a trade body.
Across India, about 40,000 biotechnology students pass out every year but the total industry, with about 500 biotech companies, employs not more than 50,000 across the country. “That leaves a supply and demand gap of about 25:1,” said Appaji. The industry, however, is not content with the quality of students produced. “The infrastructure in colleges leaves much to be desired. Students who graduate do not even know how to handle lab equipment sometimes,” said Krishna Ella, CMD, Bharat Biotech.
And in a bid to bridge this demand-supply gap, the government may be considering setting up a finishing school.
“We do have a proposal. But it’s still in a concept stage. The idea is to train students as per industry requirements. We also encourage and facilitate the industry to forge tie ups with colleges so as to offer industry exposure to students,” said V Prasanna Kumar, Joint Director, Commissioner of Industries, GoAP.