Pfizer joins hands with NIPER (Ahmedabad) to support Healthcare Innovation in India

• Pfizer INDovation program partners with NIPER Ahmedabad to incubate healthcare startups. Program will provide funding up to Rs. 25 lacs to each selected startup and incubation at the National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research (NIPER) Ahmedabad.
• Supported by the Department of Pharmaceuticals the collaboration aims to back indigenous healthcare solutions, contributing to the country's healthcare priorities and promoting positive social impact.
• Entries to this program are now open and startups are encouraged to apply on www.pfizerindovation.com.

NEW DELHI, Feb. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To encourage and support startups in India and help early-stage innovators advance on their journey, Pfizer has announced collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad. This collaboration will endeavour to support healthcare start-ups in turning their innovative ideas into market-ready solutions. The initiative is being supported by the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Niti Aayog and is being anchored by Social Alpha.

This partnership expands on the successful Pfizer INDovation initiative, through which 34 startups in India have already been supported through funding and incubation to bring their breakthroughs to market. Through this partnership with NIPER Ahmedabad, this initiative will follow a cohort-based approach with the aim of selecting 6 innovators pan-India, that will be incubated at NIPER Ahmedabad. Start-ups with a proof-of-concept that matches the set mandate will be selected for a one-year accelerator program. Each of these startups will receive incubation support in areas of product development, regulatory pathway, pre-clinical testing, tech transfer support through NIPER ecosystem and real-world clinical fitment check. They will also receive funding support of up to Rs. 25 lakhs each.

Together, Pfizer, NIPER Ahmedabad and Social Alpha will be looking for innovations at TRL levels 3 or higher in the areas of deep tech and artificial intelligence for predictive analysis, point-of-care testing, SaaS, informatics and wearables and track and trace solutions.

NIPER Ahmedabad is in the process of setting up a Centre of Excellence in Medical Device. This partnership will further help startups in this domain take advantage of the NIPER Ahmedabad innovation ecosystem in medical devices to advance in their journey towards commercialization.

Dr. Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals said, "Encouraging indigenous innovation in healthcare is not merely a priority, but a responsibility shared by all who are a part of this ecosystem. Our support to this collaboration between Pfizer and NIPER-A highlights the potential of startups bringing innovations that can advance the delivery of healthcare in the country."

Prof Shailendra Saraf, Director, NIPER- Ahmedabad, said, "NIPER-A has long been at the forefront of pharmaceutical research and education. We believe that innovation is vital to address today's healthcare challenges and this collaboration can empower start-ups to drive transformative healthcare solutions. Collaboration with a leading pharmaceutical organisation like Pfizer will provide a boost for these innovative start-ups and their ideas."

Meenakshi Nevatia, Managing Director, Pfizer Ltd., said, "Pfizer has been present in India since 1950 and today has one of the most comprehensive presences in the country through large scale manufacturing and state-of-the-art R&D operations.  Through the Pfizer INDovation platform, we are proud to have given wing to startups that are addressing important unmet needs in areas of Oncology, Digital Health, Devices and Diagnostics.  We sincerely thank Department of Pharmaceuticals for their support in facilitating the partnership with NIPER-Ahmedabad. We look forward to welcoming our latest cohort of startups to this program and being a part of their journey to success."

Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, said, "India's healthcare ecosystem will be enriched by new digital breakthroughs brought to the market by startups driven by young innovative minds. These innovations will help facilitate broader disease awareness, quicker diagnosis, and better patient outcomes, inching us closer to our goal of a healthier India."

Dr. Kshama Kothari, Director – Health and Wellness, Social Alpha, said, "Social Alpha believes that contextual innovations can help improve screening, diagnosis and healthcare delivery, furthering progress made towards health equity. In this edition of INDovation, we will support start-ups through the steps of product development and pre-clinical testing."

About National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Ahmedabad,

NIPER Ahmedabad is an internationally recognized centre of excellence in teaching, research and entrepreneurial training in pharmaceutical sciences. The interdisciplinary courses and cultural diversity at NIPER Ahmedabad sparks the spirit of innovative research and all-round development of its students. The location of the institute ensures a symbiotic association with pharmaceutical industries, medical centres, technological universities and industries. NIPER Ahmedabad aims to revamp pharma education and research and usher in a new era of pharmaceutical, including biomedical devices. The vision of NIPER-A is to excel in teaching, research, and entrepreneurial training in both pharmaceutical sciences and medical devices. NIPER-A encourages skill upgradation for human resources and promotes innovative translational research. The details of activities related to R&D, academic development, facilities and infrastructure at NIPER-A are available on https://niperahm.ac.in/  

About Social Alpha

Social Alpha is a multistage innovation curation and venture development platform for science and technology start-ups that address the most critical social, economic, and environmental challenges through the power of entrepreneurship and market-creating innovations. Since its inception in 2016, Social Alpha has supported more than 200+ start-ups including 60+ seed investments. For more information, please visit www.socialalpha.org 

LinkedIn: Social Alpha |Twitter: @SocialAlphaIN | Facebook: SocialAlphaIN | Instagram: socialalpha_in

About Pfizer: Breakthroughs that Change Patients' Lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of healthcare products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments, and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. In Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with healthcare providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, and affordable healthcare around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. Please visit our website www.pfizer.co.in for more such updates.

For further media information, please contact:

Pfizer India
Roma Nair
Cell: 9987008170
Email: [email protected] 

Genesis BCW
Supriya Bhoite
Cell: 8657942151
Email: [email protected] 

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