This is my first address on this website. Let me first wish all of you a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year. This is the beginning of a new decade also. The last year saw many ups and downs in the economy, politics, government, industries, education, etc in our country and world at large. The new year is always welcomed with a new hope and we start the new year day with celebration and enthusiasm. Some people start the day with a prayer, some with exchanging the greetings to others, a few make resolutions for the coming year. I thought I will start it with a warm greetings to all, especially my colleagues and staff, our associates, clients, student community with which I had been passionately associated for years, our well-wishers, colleges and universities which had been always encouraging me and inviting me to be their chief guest or speaker or included me as a member of board of studies, mentor for their Technology Business Incubators or advisor or had collaborated with us in workshops and to my fellow countrymen and the brothers and sisters around the world.
Though due to limited resources and many problems, we had a slow progress in the last few years, our efforts had never been less. My dream of seeing our country as the Biotechnology Hub of the world is no doubt a larger vision and mission. This cannot be achieved by and individual or a small group is apparent. However, if all of us do not work tirelessly and contribute our bits and pieces to this great mission, things will have to wait for long.
Many biotechnology students find it difficult to get jobs when they just come out of the academics without any experience. Industries have their own reservations and fears in the recruitment and the educational institutions thrive to do something but there were no great breaks. I had been talking for a while on Industry- Institution collaborations to take an aggressive attempts to achieve this, though many such ideas exist only on paper. We are happy that last year we had recruited a new batch of young biotech professionals for skill development and placement through Skill Fairs conducted by Government of Tamil Nadu in association with Confederation of Indian Industries in various districts. On 5th of January, 2010, the new recruits are going to get their appointment letters through our Honorable Chief Minister Mr.M.Karunanidhi during a function organized at Centenary Auditorium of University of Madras. We are happy that we are the only Biotechnology Company in Tamil Nadu to have taken part in the Skill Fair conducted by the State Government and recruited candidates. This January too, we will do so in certain other districts such as Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, etc. We will work in close coordination with many educational institutions and universities in the coming days.
I would like to stress once again to my young team that only through the handwork and dedication, we can achieve several things. Do not think that we work only for our progress but we all work for the progress of this country as a whole. Work in such a way that you would bring in opportunities to several of your juniors who are still seeking for jobs as well as become role models for others to follow. I want all my team to enjoy first what they do and relish that we are a happy family with one great mission.
I wish to thank many but doing individually here will be almost impossible. It is your wishes and support that had sustained us all this while. We all do different things and yet have a common goal in achieving something for our Nation. It is only with collaborations and cooperation we can achieve seemingly impossible missions.
The company in the new year is going to launch a few new services and products. Innovative ideas are being worked out by our team to bring out a few nutraceutical products from the sea. Our sister company Indiainnovation.in will soon be launching an aggressive marketing and will cater to the needs of several industries and corporate and also conduct competitions for the students, encouraging them in innovation and creativity.
The new year also have a hope of introducing new supplies and service division to cater to the needs of biotech industries.
Women working in biotech industries and companies is still low and it is a major concern that many girls after completing their degrees accept it as a fact of life to get married and forget all their dreams in biotechnology and life sciences. One of my students doing MBA is studying on these issues. The women after gaining professional degrees and experience, not using their talents could amount to a brain drain too. Government has taken effort to bring such women who had a break in career into the mainstream again. Women who had a break in their career and have a PhD preferably or Post graduation in biotechnology or life sciences who is above 30 years can apply to us with their detailed Resume'. If you have an innovative idea and would like to work on that, we do encourage you.
We believe in the cooperation and collaboration rather than all working as isolated islands. We invite all right thinking people to join our effort.
Once again I wish you all a not only a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year and the new Decade but also an year filled with great Vision and Mission. Ultimately, we all work for the humanity and bring Joy to the World through innovative technologies.
Dr. T. Charles John Bhaskar
Scientist & Managing Director
Geomarine Biotechnologies (P) Ltd
