Industry Dialogue on PRIP Scheme

• 18 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, hosted an Industry Dialogue in Mumbai to promote research and innovation under the Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme. 

 Key Points 

• Key Discussions & Participation: 
  • The event provided a platform for industry leaders, associations, and research institutes from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), and National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs). 
  • Discussions focused on strengthening industry-academia linkages, fostering collaboration, and leveraging government initiatives to accelerate R&D and commercialization of innovative solutions in pharmaceuticals and medical technology. 
• Government Initiatives: 
  • PRIP Scheme: Detailed insights on its role in supporting research and innovation. 
  • ICMR Initiatives: 
    • PATENT MITRA – Support for patent filing. 
    • MEDTECH MITRA – Assistance in the innovation journey and clinical trials. 
    • INTENT – Facilitation of research and development efforts. 
• Government’s Vision for Pharma-MedTech: 
  • Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals emphasized: 
    • The importance of futuristic products and affordable healthcare solutions. 
    • The transformative role of data-driven markets in shaping Pharma-MedTech R&D. 
    • India’s unique advantage in precision and personalized medicine due to its diverse gene pool and large population. 
    • The PRIP Scheme’s role in supporting cost-effective and innovative healthcare solutions for global impact. 

 Indian Council of Medical Research 

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. 
• Its mandate is to conduct, coordinate and implement medical research for the benefit of the Society; translating medical innovations into products/processes and introducing them into the public health system. 
• It is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 

 Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) 

• About: CSIR is the largest research and development (R&D) organisation in India. CSIR has a pan-India presence and has a dynamic network of 37 national laboratories, 39 outreach centres, 3 Innovation Complexes and 5 units. 
• Established: September 1942 
• Headquarters: New Delhi 
  • It is funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology and it operates as an autonomous body through the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 
• CSIR covers a wide spectrum of streams – from radio and space physics, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology. 
  • It provides significant technological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which include the environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, and farm and non-farm sectors.