Bangalore, July 11 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Monday said five bio-tech parks will be set up in the state, including one worth Rs.500 crore in capital Bangalore.


Similar facilities will be set up at Mysore, Mangalore, Bidar and Dharwad, he said laying the foundation stone for the Bangalore bio-tech park.

The park is coming up on a 56-acre plot in Electronic City in east Bangalore. It is being built by Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

Yeddyurappa promised to continue giving priority to development of bio-technology sector in the state to promote research and development in life sciences.

He noted that top 10 bio-tech companies in India are located in Karnataka.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, head of the leading bio-pharmaceutical firm Biocon, noted that Bangalore was emerging as biotech city and setting up of the park would go a long way in promoting research and development in the sector.