Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal has announced ₹10 crores for covid vaccine research and development in the state.
In his budget announcement, the minister said that the vaccine companies would realize the possibility of setting up their manufacturing units in Kerala if the public facilities required for them were made available.
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The Institute of Advanced Virology will take the initiative to discuss the matter with Bio 360 Life Sciences Park vaccine manufacturing companies and will explore the possibility of setting up their manufacturing units in the state.
In addition, a vaccine research centre will be set up in Kerala to enter the manufacturing sector on a long-term basis. The research will be started regarding the same at the Institute of Advanced Virology under the Kerala Science, Technology and Environment Council.
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In addition, a fund of Rs 10 crores has been set apart for the manufacture and research of healthcare-related equipment. The amount is reserved for the scientific research institutes like Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Virology, VSSC Electronics Test Laboratory, Universities and other research institutes.
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