The INDovation initiative developed to commercialize Indian healthcare start-ups

The INDovation Initiative by Pfizer was launched ahead of World Health Day by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, AGNIi, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi, Pfizer, and Social Alpha. The programme will support breakthrough healthcare innovations by start-ups in India. The program’s main implementation partner, Social Alpha, is in charge of putting it all together. 
 
The Pfizer IIT-Delhi Innovation and IP Program, Version 2.0, is one of Pfizer’s CSR activities. Pfizer successfully nurtured 9 healthcare innovators and sponsored 19 patent filings in Version 1. In the first year of Version 2.0, three winning start-ups in Oncology and Digital Health will each receive a grant of up to INR 65 lakh for product trials, pilot studies, and product market launches, allowing them to speed their innovation’s lab-to-market journey. This is one of the country’s largest programmes for incubating and commercializing healthcare start-ups, both in terms of grant value and relationships. 
 
Co-incubation will give the entrepreneurs access to AIM and NITI Aayog’s complete network of incubators and facilities, as well as technical and strategic advisory support for both the programme and the startups. The Indian Institute of Technological, Delhi (IIT Delhi) will serve as the primary incubation partner, with specialized incubation support given across India’s technology incubation institutions, including IITs, other key technology institutes, and the Atal Innovation Mission’s incubation network. As the implementation partner, Social Alpha will assist start-ups in accelerating their lab-to-market journey. 
 
AGNIi, PATH, AHPI, St Johns Research Institute, HCG Hospitals, Cytecare Hospitals, FICCI, UNHIEX, Google for Startups, Design Alpha, HIMSS, Marico Innovation Foundation, and TenX2 are also supporting the initiative.

The INDovation Initiative

To welcome Digital Health and Oncology start-ups working on the identified priority issue statements, a nationwide call for applications in the form of a grand challenge will be announced. Participants who are eligible include: 
 
— Medical device and diagnostics start-ups and businesses with a Technological Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher product stage 
 
— TRL level 5 or higher start-ups or firms in artificial intelligence, big data analysis, IoTs, software development, and bioinformatics. 
 
“India has established itself to be a healthcare innovation powerhouse in the globe,” Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, said of the program’s importance. This programme is expected to assist start-ups and young innovators in developing healthcare solutions that meet unmet needs in the priority areas of oncology and digital health. 
 
“The necessity of the hour is to focus on the high burden of diseases the country is experiencing,” said Dr. Chintan Vaishanv, Managing Director, NITI Aayog‘s Atal Innovation Mission. Mortality rates and costs of terminal care can be efficiently targeted by advancements in screening, pathology, and disease management. I urge all startups working in the fields of digital health and oncology to support the National Digital Health Mission and assist India overcome its cancer pandemic.”

FITT and Pfizer

In 2015, IIT Delhi’s Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) and Pfizer collaborated to launch India’s first healthcare-focused industry-academia joint initiative. This programme has already helped 19 innovators file patents and nurtured 9 startups. This programme is being taken to the next level by the INDovation initiative. FITT IIT-Delhi, as one of the country’s leading healthcare incubators, will give start-ups with resources and knowledge to assist them develop long-term healthcare solutions,” stated Dr. Anil Wali, FITT’s Managing Director. 
 
For the next 24 months, Social Alpha and IIT Delhi will work together to assist companies get to market faster, refine their business models, traverse the regulatory framework, and gain a better understanding of national and global market dynamics. “Quality universal health coverage needs to be inexpensive to improve access and experience for all,” said Mr. Manoj Kumar, Founder and CEO of Social Alpha. We look for breakthrough discoveries that have the potential to revolutionize patient care at Social Alpha, and we assist promising start-ups with clinical and regulatory pathways, as well as funding and market access. Our partnership with Pfizer will enable us to focus even more on oncology and digital health technologies, two high-priority areas with significant impact potential.” 
 
For the next 24 months, Social Alpha and IIT Delhi will work together to assist companies get to market faster, refine their business models, traverse the regulatory framework, and gain a better understanding of national and global market dynamics. “Quality universal health coverage needs to be inexpensive to improve access and experience for all,” said Mr. Manoj Kumar, Founder and CEO of Social Alpha. We look for breakthrough discoveries that have the potential to revolutionize patient care at Social Alpha, and we assist promising start-ups with clinical and regulatory pathways, as well as funding and market access. Our partnership with Pfizer will enable us to focus even more on oncology and digital health technologies, two high-priority areas with significant impact potential.” 

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