Governor Inaugurates ‘One Week One Lab’ Program and GMP Facility at CSIR-IMTECH

The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, inaugurated the ‘One Week One Lab (OWOL)’ program and a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility at CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in Chandigarh. This facility, which is the first of its kind in the country, has GMP infrastructure and a quality management system. It is expected to contribute to national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat in the Biopharmaceutical field. The facility will provide globally recognized cell banks and expression systems for the development and production of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotherapeutics, and biosimilars to industries, start-ups, research organizations, and MSMEs.

CSIR-IMTECH is celebrating the ‘One Week One Lab (OWOL)’ program from June 19 to June 24, 2023. The aim of this program is to showcase the research and technological capabilities of IMTECH to the tri-city area and the industry. The event includes scientific lectures, panel discussions, a technology exhibition, skill development programs, and activities for children and budding researchers. The program will help IMTECH establish new collaborations and networks with researchers from across the country and the globe.

During the inauguration, Shri Banwarilal Purohit emphasized the importance of public health research in India focusing on the disease burden specific to the country. He commended CSIR-IMTECH for its exceptional work in modern microbiology and providing high-quality services and innovative solutions to the biotech industry. Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary DSIR, who joined the event online, thanked the Governor for his presence and encouraged scientists to integrate basic and applied research to translate outcomes into products that meet societal needs.

Dr. Sanjeev Khosla, Director of IMTECH, provided an overview of the ‘One Week One Lab (OWOL)’ program and highlighted its objectives, including collaboration with industries, technology deployment, commercialization, and the promotion of startups. The program also aims to showcase IMTECH’s scientific work and technological breakthroughs to the public.

CSIR-IMTECH is a national center of excellence in microbial sciences, established in 1984 under the CSIR. Its vision and mission are to create a translational ecosystem that addresses healthcare and industrial needs with cutting-edge processes and platforms.