Prime Highlights
- ICMR has introduced a new MedTech grant scheme to support the development of innovative and affordable medical technologies for public health and clinical use in India.
- The initiative aims to strengthen India’s healthcare research ecosystem while promoting locally developed solutions under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes.
Key Facts
- The scheme will support projects that have reached Technology Readiness Level-3 (proof of concept) or those offering at least a 10% cost reduction over existing technologies.
- Selected projects can receive funding of up to ₹4 crore, with a maximum project duration of two years.
Background:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a new Intramural Medical Technology (MedTech) Development Grant Scheme to support the development of medical technologies that are important for public health and clinical care in India.
The scheme encourages innovation within ICMR institutes by supporting the creation of practical and affordable medical solutions that address national health needs. Through this initiative, ICMR aims to strengthen India’s healthcare research system while promoting homegrown technology in line with the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes.
Under the scheme, ICMR’s 27 institutes across the country will be eligible to submit proposals focused on developing technologies that have already reached Technology Readiness Level-3 (proof of concept) or those that can reduce the cost of existing technologies by at least 10 percent. The programme places strong emphasis on solutions that can deliver measurable public health impact.
Each selected project may receive funding of up to ₹4 crore, with the possibility of higher financial support subject to approval by the Director General of ICMR. The maximum project duration will be two years, and ordinarily, only one project per institute per year will be supported.
Proposals must be submitted online through the Intramural ICMR Electronics Project Management System (i-ePMS) portal. The last date to submit proposals is February 26, 2026, by 5:00 pm IST. Proposals will be shortlisted on March 15, 2026, and the final results will be announced on March 31, 2026.
Eligibility for the grant is limited to Directors or Directors-in-Charge of ICMR institutes, who will serve as Principal Investigators. Industry collaboration may be included following approval from the Director General of ICMR, and all proposals are required to present a clear commercialization plan.
The projects will undergo a multi-level review process, beginning with the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) at the institute level, followed by evaluation at ICMR headquarters by a Project Review Committee comprising senior ICMR leadership and Scientific Advisory Board members.
ICMR has supported medical technology development for many years through both internal and external funding. This has helped test and use health technologies in national and international health programmes. The new grant scheme is expected to further improve India’s ability to develop affordable, high-quality medical technologies with global impact.
