Ministry Approves ₹1,600 Crore for Pharma-MedTech Innovation Projects
The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has approved 41 research and innovation projects with financial assistance of approximately ₹1,600 crore under the first call of the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) scheme. This government funding is expected to catalyze an additional ₹3,020 crore in private investment, bringing the total research and development investment across these projects to approximately ₹4,620 crore.
The approved portfolio spans the entire innovation value chain, covering novel drug discovery, clinical development, and innovative medical technologies. Of the 41 projects approved, 12 are at an early stage while 29 are at a later stage of development. In terms of organizational size, 19 projects are being undertaken by startups and MSMEs, while 22 projects are being implemented by large companies.
Project Categorization and Strategic Focus
The projects are categorized into priority areas with 27 projects falling under New Medicines, five under Complex Generics and Biosimilars, and nine under Novel Medical Devices. The initiative represents a strategic shift from a predominantly volume-driven pharmaceutical model toward an innovation-led, technology-intensive model that brings together established pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology enterprises, and MedTech innovators.
Notable participating companies include Biocon, Bharat Biotech, Sun Pharma, Wockhardt, Zydus, Mankind Pharma, Pandorum Technologies, Cellogen Therapeutics, Aurigene Oncology, and Bugworks Research. The supported innovations include first-in-class developments, emerging technologies, innovations with potential for global markets, and strategic priority innovations addressing areas of high public health importance.
Specific Innovation Examples and Strategic Priorities
Specific projects include an antibacterial targeting multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, an exosome-based regenerative therapy for corneal disease, an in-vivo CAR-T platform, patient-derived breast cancer organoids, a programmable RNA-targeting antiviral technology, portable plasmonic-PCR for point-of-care infection diagnosis, and a microfluidic platform for TB detection.
Under the strategic priority framework, enhanced support is available for innovations addressing neglected tropical diseases, rare diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for India-priority pathogens, pathogens with outbreak or pandemic potential, and vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases. Six projects have been approved under this framework so far, including projects relating to bacterial pneumonia/meningitis, dengue, influenza, and next-generation TB vaccines.
Evaluation of remaining applications under the first round is currently underway, with further results expected to be announced over the coming month. The announcement was made on September 30, 2026, through the Press Information Bureau.