Bangkok--15 Jan--TCELS Biotechnology will become a booming trend in the next decade since aging persons’ healthcare, with chronic diseases will be cured by biological molecules, a world guru in biotechnology investment says. Dr Kim Tan, Chairman of Springhill Biotechnology Fund, said in 2030 people aged over 60 will account one-third of the world population. Therefore, healthcare products and services for better quality of life are likely to be in need. Dr Tan was addressing to the seminar on biotechnology investment organised by Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS). He said at present, the global expenses on healthcare are growing at eight percent per year. Given the US alone, the healthcare spending in 2001 had amounted to 567 billion US dollars. “In the coming decade, the global trend will go into biotechnology healthcare. Medical treatments will slowly change from chemical to biotechnological molecules, A number of incurable chronic diseases will have a chance to heal,” he said. Dr Tan also suggested the key factors for healthcare business is an efficient management and patent ownership. He said he is willing to assist Thailand by passing on his knowledges and successful experiences on venture fund management in countries such as the US, the UK and Malaysia. Thailand, he noted, has a lot of great scientists as well as a number of researches and studies that can be integrated into business. Dr Thongchai Thavichachart, TCELS director, meanwhile, said he invited Dr Kim Tan for the lecture in order to promote biotechnology investment in Thailand. He noted he saw a bright prospect for life sciences of business in the country. He added Dr Kim is a renowned scientist who successfully developed his researches into business, and also helped for management of the Malaysian government’s investment fund that eventually drew a huge income to Malaysia. As for Thailand where biotechnology venture investments are not yet popular, Dr Thongchai said TCELS will serve as a bridge between public and private sectors to make the country a joint investment hub for biotechnology.