John Hopkins likely to set up R&D facility in Chennai

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai is likely to be the destination of world-renowned John Hopkins University in setting up a partnership in research and development, according in sources.



Sources from a pre-trade mission from Maryland in the United States, who are laying the groundwork for the Governor of Maryland Martin O Mally’s visit to India in December 2011, said preliminary discussions are on and refused to divulge any details.



But sources revealed that it is likely that John Hopkins may go in for partnership with Apollo. Interestingly, Apollo Hospitals already has a joint venture with Amcare Labs, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins International of the US, to set up a diagnostic laboratory in Hyderabad in 2006.



Meanwhile, the team from Maryland said it has selected five cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Chennai for the visit of the governor. “Three venues will be decided after the feedback from the team but Chennai is likely to be one of the destinations. The US Consulate here wants Chennai as an itinerary in the governor’s proposed visit, ” a source from the team said.



Sources also revealed that the governor will lead a 50 member delegation and strategic partnerships between Tamil Nadu and state of Maryland will be formalized during the governor’s visit.



Meanwhile, it was also revealed that University of Maryland may go in for a tie-up with an academic institution in Chennai. “The details are being worked out,” the sources revealed