Cyber Media enters biotech arena with BioSpectrum

Bangalore-based BioSpectrum has been acquired by ICT publishers, Cyber Media (India) Ltd. The group, with a proven track record in specialized magazines like Dataquest and PC Quest, is now all set to fine tune the product before releasing it on the stands.

BANGALORE: ICT publisher, Cyber Media (India) Limited, has acquired Bangalore-based BioSpectrum magazine from its publisher, IQ TechMedia Private Limited. This is in line with the company’s focus to enter the biotechnology space. Following the acquisition, Cyber Media plans to fine-tune the product before releasing it back on the stands. The monthly magazine will be re-launched in February 2003.

"Acquiring BioSpectrum would give us a headstart with the necessary content, set base of readership, infrastructure and branding. It would also mark our entry in the biotechnology arena. Twenty years ago, we caught the IT wave with the launch of Dataquest. With BioSpectrum, we are now ready to catch the emerging wave of opportunities offered by biotechnology and bioinformatics," said Cyber Media Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Gupta.

BioSpectrum aims to be the definitive trade publication for the biotech sector and will carry news and analyses on technological breakthroughs, policy issues, regulatory frameworks, people, products and services in areas of biotechnology, genome research, bio-informatics, microbiology, agriculture biotechnology, healthcare, topical issues of Intellectual Property Rights regime and bio-environment issues.

Welcoming the move, Government of Karnataka, Secretary for IT and Biotechnology, Vivek Kulkarni, said, "Bangalore has been a leader in terms of volume of the of companies, rich talent pool, biotech friendly policies and resources. We have also been conducting BangaloreBIO successfully during the past couple of years and this year’s event has already received overwhelming response. BioSpectrum, launched in this year’s BangaloreBIO, would fill the absence of an information magazine for the biotechnology sector."

Elaborating on the opportunities in the biotechnology sector, BioSpectrum Executive Editor N Suresh said, " The magazine would try to fill the gap of bringing together a common forum to discuss the issues of the biotech sector and its players."