Innovate UK and GITA (Global Innovation & Technology Alliance) provide grant funding to help participants build research partnerships and increase bilateral R&D collaboration between the UK and India, with the aim of generating new intellectual property and developing technology prototypes/processes.

In support of this activity, Sue Dunkerton, Director at the KTN was part of a team of UK researchers that attended a series of meetings on the topic of Affordable Healthcare during 9-13 February 2015. Meetings were organised by the Science & Innovation Network (SIN) and were held in Chennai, Mumbai and Pune with representatives from India spanning businesses, entrepreneurs, clinicians, researchers and government personnel.

The meetings helped showcase some of the infrastructure and innovations arising from both countries, tempered with a degree of realism on some of the challenges faced by the India market. It is clear that, as with many countries, there are different markets with world leading capability building up India’s medical tourism business at one end to the real issue of affordability to deliver healthcare to large parts of the population in rural and poor areas.

Strong themes appearing were in diagnostics (affordable and point of care); infectious diseases; ophthalmology (India still has the largest numbers of blind people in the world); assistive technologies; digital health; heart conditions; biomaterials; sensors; patient communication.

Of the two main workshops in Chennai and Pune, we learnt of Chennai’s emphasis on medical tourism and Pune’s emphasis on education, research and innovation, with India’s first bio-incubator established here.

Attendees from both nations were encouraged to consider the India-UK Collaborative R&D Programme, which will support business led collaboration and aims to help build sustainable bilateral partnerships leading to economic growth and societal benefit. There is an open call at the moment with a deadline of April 15 (registration by April 8), but interested organisations are encouraged to think about getting ready for the next call as this is a short notice if relationships are not already established. UK organisations can receive up to £150,000 grant, @50% funding, for projects expected to last up to 2 years.

Further information is available here

The KTN has connections in India to help find suitable partners – sue.dunkerton@ktn-uk.org

Thanks go to Sheryl Anchan, Advisory for the Science & Innovation Network, British Deputy High Commission, Mumbai for the organization of this mission.