Hindustan Latex to set up business incubation centre

Thiruvananthapuram: Hindustan Latex, a mini ratna company under the Union Health Ministry, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) to set up a technology business incubation centre.

The incubation centre, coming up at RGCB, will translate the available technologies that are remaining at the bench level into healthcare products for the masses, according to Mr M. Ayyappan, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Latex.

As part of the project, Hindustan Latex and RGCB will make joint efforts to develop rapid molecular diagnostics to address the requirements of the country.

This will include high and molecular diagnostic kits, and cheap and easy-to-use rapid point care testing devices.

Initially, the centre will take up the diagnosis of diseases prevalent in Kerala, namely chickenguniya and dengue. Gradually, it will also take up projects from other reputed research centres.

The MoU was signed by Mr Ayyappan and Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai, Director of RGCB.