Govt Hosts Workshop on PRIP Scheme to Boost Pharma-MedTech Research and Innovation

Shri Amit Agrawal highlighted the rapid expansion of the sector, emphasizing India’s growing role in research and innovation.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, organized a high-level workshop on the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme today. This significant event brought together top government officials, scientific leaders, and key stakeholders to chart the course for strengthening India’s pharmaceutical and medical technology research ecosystem.

The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of five key Secretaries from various government departments, including:

• Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals
• Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General (DG), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
• Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and DG, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)

The workshop served as a pivotal platform for discussing action points and strategies to drive research and development (R&D) in the pharmaceutical and MedTech sectors, with an emphasis on fostering innovation and self-reliance in India’s healthcare industry.

Key Highlights of the Workshop

Expanding India's Pharma-MedTech Innovation Ecosystem

Shri Amit Agrawal highlighted the rapid expansion of the sector, emphasizing India’s growing role in research and innovation. He pointed out that the global share of advanced personalized and precision medicine technologies, such as antibody-drug conjugates, bi-specific antibodies, and cell and gene therapy, is increasing rapidly—from 5% in 2020 to a projected 20% by 2030. Additionally, he noted the tenfold increase in Indian healthcare and life sciences startups, from 900 in 2020 to over 10,000 in 2024, signaling the country's expanding innovation landscape.

Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration

Shri Agrawal underscored that the groundwork for PRIP has been laid through the growing ecosystem of startups and research institutions, supported by multiple government initiatives, such as:

• Clinical Trial Network by CSIR’s INTENT initiative
• Patenting Support via DST’s TIFAC and ICMR’s Patent Mitra initiative
• MedTech and Drug Development Assistance through ICMR’s MedTech Mitra initiative
• Startup Funding Programs including DBT’s BIRAC, MeitY’s TIDE 2.0 and SAMRIDH, and DST’s Quantum Computing Mission

He emphasized that PRIP is a transformative initiative designed to catalyze innovation, strengthen industry-academia partnerships, and position India as a global leader in pharmaceutical and MedTech research.

Key Statements from Scientific Leaders

• Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, stressed the importance of cutting-edge scientific research in pharmaceuticals and MedTech and highlighted the extensive incubator and accelerator network available through DST to support early-stage innovations.

• Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, spoke about the transformative impact of digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven technologies in drug discovery and medical device development. He emphasized the research strengths of organizations such as SAMEER, C-DAC, and C-MET under MeitY.

• Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, DHR and DG, ICMR, underscored the critical role of clinical research and regulatory advancements in accelerating pharmaceutical innovation. He highlighted ICMR’s INTENT, MedTech Mitra, and Patent Mitra initiatives and their potential alignment with PRIP to facilitate industry-academia collaborative research.

• Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration between research institutions and industry to ensure seamless translation of research into commercially viable applications. She noted that CSIR labs have developed considerable research outputs that can be brought to market with PRIP funding and industry partnerships.

Workshop Deliberations and Action Points

The workshop featured four dedicated breakout sessions that engaged over 100 participants from premier institutions, including National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), IITs, CSIR labs, and organizations under ICMR, MeitY, DST, and the Department of Biotechnology. Key topics of discussion included:

1. Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical and MedTech Research
2. Strategies for Translating Research into Commercially Viable Products
3. Government Support Mechanisms to Accelerate Sectoral Growth
4. Policy Flexibilities to Maximize PRIP's Impact

Call for Stakeholder Inputs

All participants were encouraged to submit their suggestions through an Expression of Interest (EoI) form for the PRIP scheme, available on the Department of Pharmaceuticals website. The government seeks stakeholder feedback to refine and implement the PRIP scheme effectively. The EoI submission deadline is April 7, 2025.

Conclusion

The workshop reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to making India a global hub for pharmaceutical and MedTech innovation. With PRIP serving as a catalyst for R&D and industry-academia collaboration, India is poised to lead in next-generation healthcare solutions that will benefit both the domestic and global markets.

For more details and to participate in the EoI process, stakeholders can visit the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ official website.