Biotechnology: A growing field in the developing world

Biotechnology: A growing field in the developing world

The developing world is achieving significant growth in a broad cross-section of biotechnology fields, many of them directly tied to food production, health and other dimensions of human well-being, says a new analysis commissioned by the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence in Biotechnolgy.

The first-of-its kind report, ‘Biotechnology in Developing Countries: Growth and Competitiveness’ was released today by the Beijing-based centre, which is organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). The CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Biotechnology report provides an assessment of research and patents in the field across the global South.

"This report is, to the best of my knowledge, the first extensive document summarizing the development status of a specific technology area in the developing world," writes Bai Chunli, the president of both CAS and TWAS, in the foreword. "It provides a strong, valuable assessment of biotechnology activities in developing countries, as measured in scientific publications and patents."

Traditionally, the United States has been viewed as the world leader in biotechnology innovation, with over 1,200 biotech companies employing almost 200,000 workers in fields ranging from human product development to food and agriculture services. Yet, as globalization becomes more prominent and technology spreads worldwide, other nations have come to the forefront of the biotech arena. Successful research and development in biotechnology is occurring in developing countries such as Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Kenya, South Africa, and South Korea. Although these nations are at varying points in their respective economic development, each can be considered an “innovating developing country” in biotechnology with both public and private industry support

The biotechnology industries in the United States and Western Europe tend to focus on high-cost solutions for the kinds of chronic diseases that are predominant, namely, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and tobacco-related conditions. Of the 1,393 new products marketed by Western biotechnology companies from 1975 to 1999, only 16 were for so-called “tropical diseases” and tuberculosis — the major public health issues in developing nations