University of Hyderabad & FABA announce Whale Tank 2.0 event on August 17

Hyderabad: Whale Tank 2.0 will take place on August 17 at the University of Hyderabad, as announced during a press conference held on August 6 at the Mercure Hotel, Somajiguda. The event, organised by the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations (FABA) in partnership with the University of Hyderabad, aimed to highlight the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to spur innovation and growth in the biotechnology sector.

The press conference featured several key speakers, including Prof. P. Reddanna, Executive President of FABA; Chakravarthi AVPS, Chairman of FOPE, TG & AP, and Advisor for International Affairs at FABA; Prof. Samrat L. Sabat, Director of R&D at the University of Hyderabad; Prof. A. Bindu Madhava Reddy, Professor at the University of Hyderabad; Dr. Jagadeesh Gandla, COO of FABA; and Dr. Ratnakar Palakodeti, Secretary General of FABA.

The speakers underscored the importance of enhancing academia-industry interactions to cultivate a vibrant bio-economy. They highlighted how the summit will facilitate these crucial connections and promote the exchange of knowledge among researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

In addition to the Whale Tank 2.0 announcement, several key events and awards were unveiled during the press conference:

Whale Tank 2.0: Scheduled for August 17 at the University of Hyderabad, this platform will allow 20 promising biotech startups to pitch their innovative ideas to venture capitalists, offering them a chance to secure essential funding for their growth and development.

FABA Lifetime Achievement Award: This honor will be presented to Dr. Sowmya Swaminathan for her outstanding contributions to the field of life sciences.

FABA Excellence Award: Dr. Rahul Purwar of Immunoact-Laurus Labs will receive this award in recognition of his significant achievements in biotechnology and innovation.

FABA Young Innovator Award: Sponsored by Natco, this award, which includes a cash prize of 5 lakhs, will celebrate and encourage emerging talent in biotechnology.

FABA PhD Student Award: Supported by Govin Holdings, Singapore, this award, with a cash prize of 2 lakhs, will acknowledge and support the research contributions of PhD students in the life sciences.

The FABA Innovation Cluster meeting, scheduled for August 18 at the University of Hyderabad, will attract around 300 attendees.

For more information about the FABA Innovation Summit and to register for the events, please visit [https://biofaba.org.in/](https://biofaba.org.in/).

For further inquiries, contact Professor Bindu Madhava Reddy at +91 88972 48519.