HCM City starts work on biotechnology centre

Work started yesterday on the HMC Biotechnology Centre, six years after the HCM City government signed a decision establishing the centre to support the development of high-tech agriculture in the city.

The centre covers 23 hectares of land in District 12, not far from the Quang Trung Software City, and requires an investment capital of $100 million for the first stage.

This centre, the first of its kind in Vietnam, will be a multi-function complex engaging in research and development, training, technology transfer, and manufacturing of bio products for use in the areas of agriculture, medicine, pharmaceutics and environment.

Duong Hoa Xo, director of the centre, said at the ceremony that the new facility would serve as a science centre in response to the central government’s programme for biotechnological development in the period of 2006-2020.

According to him, the centre now has three laboratories specialising in molecule biology, technologies of plant cell and microorganism. Besides, the centre also has a 2,500-square-metre conservatory for growing orchids and ornamental plants, and a bio-product workshop.

The project will be finished in 2014 with 13 specialised sections.

The section of “Research & Test Production” will have 12 laboratories with advanced equipment while the Research Department will be built as a workplace for 200- 300 scientists.

Tags: HMC Biotechnology Centre, Vietnam technology