BioCamp opens door for the students of Bangladesh
Sunday, 21 October 2007
FE Special
THE Novartis Biotechnology Camp 2007 (BioCamp) held in Japan opened the door for Bangladeshi students to acquire in-depth knowledge of the newest developments in the biotechnology industry.
Biotechnology is now a key segment for any national economy with an eye on the future, as well as a global industry that spans national borders.
Two Bangladeshi students have recently been exposed to few of the top world figures in the field of biotechnology and business in the conference.
The bonanza of Sagar Sen, an MBA final semester student of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University (DU) and Sadia Mahboob, a part four student of Bachelor of Pharmacy of DU came at the three-day international conference on biotechnology held in Tokyo recently.
The conference brought together the industry experts, renowned academics and top bioscience and business management majors.
"We showed the benchmark of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry and acquired in-depth knowledge of the newest developments in the biotechnology industry from the globally renowned experts. We also learned to develop cutting-edge expertise and management skills needed for attaining success in the biotechnology business," said Sadia Mahboob.
She said Bangladesh's poor research and development (R and D) facility in the pharmaceutical sector will be improved once the corporate sector comes forward in this field.
"Bangladesh needs a huge fund in the R and D and only big corporate houses can support us in this area," she added.
Sagar Sen, another participant of the conference told the FE that Bangladesh should improve the quality in the curriculum of 'pure science' to facilitate the development of R and D in pharmaceutical sector, a thrust sector announced by the government.
Sagar became one of the outstanding performers winning accolades from all the contestants and panel of judges.
Novartis and its affiliates have been organising the event since 2004. The first one took place in Taiwan.
Bangladesh, for the first time, took part in the BioCamp, arranged by Novartis Bangladesh and also won prizes.
The conference also offered a talented crop of university students from across the globe an opportunity to mingle with those who are leading the biotechnology sector and gain insights into the recent trends in the field.
The participants had to go through screenings and contests in their countries before reaching the Japanese capital.
Hiroyuki Mitani, president and CEO of Novartis Pharma KK (Japan), delivered the welcome address at the opening ceremony of the yearly gathering arranged by his organisation in association with Novartis Foundation (Japan) for the promotion of science.
The organisers said the rationale for organising such camps is to help prepare the future leaders in bioscience through peer networking, and exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise.
Dr Robert Horvitz, professor of MIT and winner of the Nobel Prize in physiology (medicine) in 2002, was among the speakers.
During the three-day deliberations, 43 young researchers, post-graduate, graduate and undergraduate students from 15 countries were engaged in presentations, interactive question-answer sessions and active 10-hour group workshop.
THE Novartis Biotechnology Camp 2007 (BioCamp) held in Japan opened the door for Bangladeshi students to acquire in-depth knowledge of the newest developments in the biotechnology industry.
Biotechnology is now a key segment for any national economy with an eye on the future, as well as a global industry that spans national borders.
Two Bangladeshi students have recently been exposed to few of the top world figures in the field of biotechnology and business in the conference.
The bonanza of Sagar Sen, an MBA final semester student of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University (DU) and Sadia Mahboob, a part four student of Bachelor of Pharmacy of DU came at the three-day international conference on biotechnology held in Tokyo recently.
The conference brought together the industry experts, renowned academics and top bioscience and business management majors.
"We showed the benchmark of Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry and acquired in-depth knowledge of the newest developments in the biotechnology industry from the globally renowned experts. We also learned to develop cutting-edge expertise and management skills needed for attaining success in the biotechnology business," said Sadia Mahboob.
She said Bangladesh's poor research and development (R and D) facility in the pharmaceutical sector will be improved once the corporate sector comes forward in this field.
"Bangladesh needs a huge fund in the R and D and only big corporate houses can support us in this area," she added.
Sagar Sen, another participant of the conference told the FE that Bangladesh should improve the quality in the curriculum of 'pure science' to facilitate the development of R and D in pharmaceutical sector, a thrust sector announced by the government.
Sagar became one of the outstanding performers winning accolades from all the contestants and panel of judges.
Novartis and its affiliates have been organising the event since 2004. The first one took place in Taiwan.
Bangladesh, for the first time, took part in the BioCamp, arranged by Novartis Bangladesh and also won prizes.
The conference also offered a talented crop of university students from across the globe an opportunity to mingle with those who are leading the biotechnology sector and gain insights into the recent trends in the field.
The participants had to go through screenings and contests in their countries before reaching the Japanese capital.
Hiroyuki Mitani, president and CEO of Novartis Pharma KK (Japan), delivered the welcome address at the opening ceremony of the yearly gathering arranged by his organisation in association with Novartis Foundation (Japan) for the promotion of science.
The organisers said the rationale for organising such camps is to help prepare the future leaders in bioscience through peer networking, and exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise.
Dr Robert Horvitz, professor of MIT and winner of the Nobel Prize in physiology (medicine) in 2002, was among the speakers.
During the three-day deliberations, 43 young researchers, post-graduate, graduate and undergraduate students from 15 countries were engaged in presentations, interactive question-answer sessions and active 10-hour group workshop.