India Focuses on Pharma and MedTech Research to Drive Medical Advances

With a strategic focus on positioning India as a global R&D center in pharmaceutical and medical technology, the Government’s launch of the Expression of Interest (EOI) focuses on promoting research and innovation in the Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) scheme. The initiative aims to boost investments in drug discovery, medical devices and advanced therapeutics with a complete financial outlay of Rs 5,000 Cr.

A 32-page EoI document has been issued by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, promoting participation from pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. The document comments "to provide you with an opportunity to co-shape India’s journey towards becoming an R&D innovation hub."

The initiative focuses on six research spaces, including Medical Devices, Orphan Drugs, New Chemical and Biological Entities, Complex Generics and Biosimilars, Precision Medicine, and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

To attract industry participation, the scheme delivers subsidies in three categories. Giant pharmaceutical and medtech firms can obtain up to 35% of the total cost of the project or Rs 125 Cr. Another category offers Rs 100 Cr for plans at TRL 5 or 6, whereas startups and MSMEs can receive Rs 1 Cr per project at the early stage of research.

With this scheme, India seeks to foster its pharmaceutical innovation, strengthen leadership in MedTech R&D and attract global investments.