Mumbai, Maharashtra: In a significant step towards enhancing healthcare innovation in India, Boehringer Ingelheim India, a prominent global pharmaceutical company, has forged its second collaboration with the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). This partnership aims to support and promote groundbreaking healthcare solutions.
During a recent visit to SIIC, IIT Kanpur, Boehringer Ingelheim India’s delegation, led by Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Managing Director, and Prabhat Sinha, Director of Government and Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs, highlighted their commitment to nurturing healthcare innovations. The collaboration underscores the synergies between academia and industry in pushing the boundaries of medical research and application.
One of the pioneering initiatives benefitting from this collaboration is Manastik Technologies, an innovator incubated at SIIC. Manastik is in the process of developing India’s first tele-neurorehabilitation application designed for multidisciplinary dementia care and diagnosis. Leveraging its Dementia Application and Diagnosis & Tracking (DADT) technology, the app focuses on addressing the critical need for comprehensive solutions in the mental healthcare domain, especially for dementia. With Boehringer Ingelheim’s financial grant, Manastik aims to validate its application, enhance dementia awareness, and conduct nationwide screening campaigns.
This year, Boehringer Ingelheim has extended its support to Lenek Technologies, another SIIC-incubated venture, which is on a mission to combat Tuberculosis (TB) through innovative solutions. Lenek Technologies is developing a handheld X-ray device that promises to revolutionize TB screening, especially in resource-scarce settings, thereby contributing to the eradication of this debilitating disease.
Speaking on the collaboration, Gagandeep Singh Bedi commended the joint efforts, stating, “Our continued partnership with IIT Kanpur is a testament to our commitment towards collective innovation. Our goal is to amalgamate the strengths of scientific communities, patients, and healthcare systems to usher in advanced, sustainable, and holistic therapies. Our collaborative endeavors go beyond scientific advancements, as we aim to transform patient care and ensure accessible health outcomes for all.”
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Professor Ankush Sharma, the Professor In Charge at SIIC, emphasized the significance of Boehringer Ingelheim’s support in propelling medical technologies with strong social impacts. He noted, “The backing from Boehringer Ingelheim perfectly aligns with our mission to pave the way for a healthier India. It empowers our startup ecosystem, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration that not just envisions a better future but actively constructs it.”
The relationship between Boehringer Ingelheim and SIIC represents a shared commitment to fostering socially responsible technological advancements. This collaboration, apart from benefiting Manastik, also facilitates interaction and potential partnerships between Boehringer Ingelheim and the array of healthcare startups incubating at SIIC, setting the stage for future cooperative endeavors.
### About Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur
Established in the year 2000, SIIC at IIT Kanpur has emerged as one of the pioneer technology business incubators in India, with a track record of numerous incubation successes. Integrated under the umbrella of the Foundation for Research & Innovation in Science & Technology (FIRST), a Section-8 company promoted by IIT Kanpur in 2018, SIIC has been instrumental in bridging the gaps from concept to commercialization within the incubation ecosystem over the past two decades.
### About Boehringer Ingelheim
Founded in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim stands among the forefront of the biopharmaceutical sector, dedicated to developing innovative treatments for humans and animals. With a global workforce of 53,000 and operations spanning over 130 markets, the company’s focus includes Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. Boehringer Ingelheim India, established in 2003, oversees operations within India and adjacent markets, focusing on delivering innovative healthcare solutions in multiple therapeutic areas.
