Novosibirsk puts together biotech cluster

Novosibirsk regional authorities have approved a roadmap for the development of a regional biotech cluster with the Koltsovo ?science city? as its centerpiece

Novosibirsk regional authorities have approved a roadmap for the development of a regional biotech cluster with the Koltsovo ?science city? nearby as its centerpiece, the ?science city? press service announced. The region expects to invest as much as $3bn in this ambitious program between now and 2017. To develop Koltsovo?s R&D potential a wide range of projects will be completed, the regional administration said. For example, the cluster will be pushing its $12m project aimed at developing test systems and drugs to fight malignant tumors in bones, breast and ovaries, as well as to counter the HIV and a number of infectious diseases, including flu, chicken pox, etc. Another $5m will be spent on developing and commercializing drugs to deal with rheumatoid arthritis, the cluster initiators said. By the end of this year, the Novosibirsk region wants to invest about $4m in the completion of Koltsovo?s multiple-access center to help residents do biotech research...