With the setting up of the Punjab Biotechnology Incubator (PBTI) in Phase V on Friday, the city got the first part of its “Biotechnology Cluster”.

The PBTI will later be shifted to the upcoming Knowledge City, Sector 81, along with the Biotechnology Cluster, which was being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 380 crore.

Punjab Minister for Science, Technology and Environment Bikram Singh Majithia, who inaugurated the PBTI, said, “The Punjab government and the Union Department of Biotechnology (DBT) have jointly sanctioned and approved the setting up of the PBTI in Punjab Biotechnology Park at a total cost of Rs 10.97 crore.”

The Incubator facilities were sanctioned to carry out the quality testing and certification, value addition of products and processes of agriculture and related sectors, training and dissemination of information on quality and food safety aspects, added the minister.

PBTI Chief Executive Officer Dr S S Marwaha said that the laboratories were equipped with the latest hi-end equipment for the analysis of pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, minerals, vitamins, fatty acid profile and food additives among other things.