The Maharashtra government is in negotiations with IBM Life Sciences for technical and infrastructural assistance to the bio-technology parks in Pune and Jalna.

A senior government official said: "While negotiations were initiated with IBM Life Sciences for technical and infrastructural assistance to the bio-technology parks in Pune and Jalna, the exact nature of the association is still being worked out."

The alliance being worked out could involve the two working together in research projects, a focused pilot project which would prove to be the key technology for solutions, and IBM providing lecturers in universities and sponsor conferences and student internships.

The experienced knowledge base of the US-based company is also being solicited to provide high performance information technology infrastructure for the biotechnology parks that would include data and knowledge management, and clinical and regulatory solutions for clients.

The joint venture company entrusted the task of running the parks has been directed to discuss with IBM and finalise the details of the agreement.

The Tata Consultancy Group (TCG) and the Maharashtra government will also jointly work out the possible alliances with IBM in these areas.

IBM Life Sciences provides IT infrastructure for researchers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, genomics, proteomics, and healthcare to turn data into scientific discovery.

IBM offers integrated solutions for laboratories in areas of scalable, high-performance computing tool Flexible, fast-recovery storage data integration tools that permit single-query access across multiple data sources, knowledge management products and services secure, open-architecture and scalable e-business infrastructure.

The IBM Deep Computing Institute provides business decision-making capabilities to analyse and develop solutions for complex problems.

The current negotiations are a fallout of a meeting in July between IBM executives in New York and government officials.

The IBM delegation included Satish Gambhir, IBM worldwide programme director (life sciences solutions), William Pulleyblank, director (Deep Computing Institute and exploratory server systems), Rob Eades, IBM worldwide academic and government life science sales and Sanjiv Pande, general manager (west), IBM India.

The Maharashtra delegation included chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde, minister for industries Patangrao Kadam, minister of state for industries Rajesh Tope, chief secretary Ajit Nimbalkar, principal secretary to the chief minister Johny Joseph and principal secretary (industries) Vishwas Dhumal. Details of the state's initiatives in the biotechnology sector were also explained at the meeting.