Govt moves to build capacity for design, entrepreneurship and medical technology

Government of India today launched two separate programmes for building human capital – a design and entrepreneurship programme in collaboration with industry and higher educational institutions and another aimed at bolstering the burgeoning medical technology sector.

Secretary in the Department of Higher Education, K Sanjay Murthy virtually launched the ‘Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE)’ programme in the presence of representatives from mentor industries and representatives from shortlisted higher education institutions. 

The virtual programme attracted more than 130 participants from across 30 higher education institutions, selected through a rigorous selection process.

Sanjay Murthy said industry experts will be providing the necessary guidance and support to participating institutions through various initiatives under the banner of industry-academic linkage. 

The capacity building programme will also equip faculty members of participating institutions to focus on design and entrepreneurship development in their institution with the support of mentors from industry. 

The selection process of the institutions was anchored by IIITDM, Kancheepuram. The programme aims at instilling a problem-solving approach through creative and innovative thinking. Students will thus be equipped to find solutions to complex challenges. With support from industry participants will be able to take concrete steps in scaling up their ideas through stage-wise hand-holding. 

Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals Arunish Chawla launched the Meditech Stackathon 2024, a programme aimed at value chain mapping of select medical devices.

The Meditech Stackathon, which is held in collaboration with CII, in New Delhi, is designed to catalyse transformative change in the burgeoning MedTech sector.

Meditech industry holds immense potential with a projected growth rate of 28 per cent, reaching a size of $50 billion by 2030, Chawla said, adding that India is the 4th largest market for medical devices in Asia and among the top 20 globally. 

India also imported medical devices and equipment valued at $4.01 billion in 2022-23. There has been a surge in imports from countries like the US, China, and Germany, he added.

However, he pointed out that exports have overtaken imports in consumables and disposables. He urged industry to continue with the momentum in other pillars of medi-tech sector.

With policy support and focus on product quality, he said, India can reduce import dependence, he added.