New Delhi, February 21: In a significant push to India’s pharmaceutical innovation landscape, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boehringer Ingelheim India Pvt. Ltd., while simultaneously launching Cohort 2 of the AMRITVA programme to accelerate research commercialization.
Industry-Academia Collaboration Takes Centre Stage
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. The agreement establishes a collaborative framework focused on pharmaceutical technologies, novel drug delivery systems, academic exchange and capacity-building initiatives.
NIPER Raebareli, including its Centre of Excellence for Novel Drug Delivery Systems (CoE-NDDS), will work closely with Boehringer Ingelheim India to enhance research capabilities and promote knowledge sharing.
Access to Global Open Science Platform
As part of the partnership, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide researchers access to its opnMe® open science platform. The initiative is expected to promote scientific collaboration and accelerate innovation in drug discovery and healthcare solutions.
Officials highlighted that such structured industry-academia engagement is vital for bridging the research-to-market gap in India’s pharmaceutical sector.
Launch of AMRITVA Cohort 2
On the same occasion, Cohort 2 of AMRITVA — Alliance for Medicinal Research, Innovation, Translation and Value Acceleration — was unveiled. The programme is implemented by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, in partnership with NIPER Raebareli.
Supported under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Boehringer Ingelheim India, AMRITVA aims to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem and translate academic research into commercially viable pharmaceutical products.
Grant Support to Five Innovators
Under Cohort 2, five innovators have been selected for grant assistance to facilitate commercialization of their research projects. The financial support includes three faculty-led initiatives and two research scholar-led projects.
By providing early-stage funding and incubation support, the programme seeks to nurture entrepreneurial ventures rooted in scientific research.
Government Vision for Value-Driven Growth
Addressing the gathering, Shri Manoj Joshi emphasised that collaborative partnerships between academia and industry are essential to strengthen India’s pharmaceutical value chain. He noted that such initiatives encourage domestic innovation, entrepreneurship and improved access to affordable healthcare.
Senior officials including Shri Awadhesh Kumar Choudhary, Ms. Anugraha P, and Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri were present at the event.
The Department of Pharmaceuticals reiterated its focus on transitioning the sector from volume-driven growth to value-driven innovation through policy interventions, infrastructure support and incubation-led commercialization. These efforts align with the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
