Lok Sabha Question No. 936 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Shri Brijmohan Agrawal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 936

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector

## 936. Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare:

Shri Sanjay Dina Patil:

Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad:

Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe:

Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh:

Smt. Supriya Sule:

Shri Brijmohan Agrawal:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has invited applications for research and innovation projects under the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) scheme, if so, the details thereof including the objectives, components and total financial outlay therefor;
- (b) whether the scheme aims to support around 300 research and innovation projects, if so, the details of the Pharma City at Aurangabad or biotech clusters in Pune and Mumbai identified for R&D and innovation support under the said scheme;
- (c)  the  details  of  research  institutions,  start-ups  and  industries  from  Maharashtra  that  have applied or shortlisted under the said scheme;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to establish/strengthen Pharma and MedTech innovation hubs, testing facilities or Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in the State of Maharashtra under the said initiative;
- (e) the expected impact of the PRIP  scheme  on  employment  generation,  industrial competitiveness and research capacity in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors in the State of Maharashtra; and
- (f) the timeline fixed by the department to complete the development of Central India's largest pharma park in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY  OF  CHEMICALS  AND FERTILIZERS

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a): Details including the objectives, components and total financial outlay of the PRIP scheme are as under:
- (i) The objective of the PRIP scheme is to transform Indian Pharma MedTech sector from  cost  based  to  innovation-based  growth  by  strengthening  the  research infrastructure in the country.
- (ii) It  has  two  components,  namely,  Component  A:  Strengthening  the  research infrastructure through setting up of CoEs at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and Component B: Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech sector.
- (iii) Under component A, a total of seven CoEs have been set up, one at each of the seven NIPERs established at Mohali, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Raebareli, Hajipur and Hyderabad.
- (iv) Component  B  is  for  providing  financial  assistance  to  support  research  and development (R&D) for development of products and technologies (outputs) or expeditious validation  of  R&D  outputs  for  market  launch  and  large-scale commercialisation in three priority areas, namely new medicines, complex generics and biosimilars, and novel medical devices. Under this component, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has invited applications for research and innovation projects from pharmaceutical and MedTech industry and startups.
- (v) The total financial outlay for the scheme is ₹5,000 crore.

(b)  and  (c):  It  is  expected  that  the  scheme  would  catalyse  a  Pharma-MedTech  innovation pipeline by supporting around 300 research and innovation projects. The actual number would be subject to the scheme's financial outlay and the project costs of projects approved.  The scheme does not envisage establishment of any pharma city or biotech cluster.

Among  academic  and  research  institutions,  only  NIPERs  are  eligible  for  financial assistance under the scheme. Details regarding the NIPERs to whom financial assistance has been approved  are  given  in  the  reply  to  part  (a).  The  application  process  does  not  require startups and industries to declare the State where they are registered.

(d): The scheme provides financial assistance to support pharmaceutical and MedTech industry and startups for their research and innovation projects in identified priority areas. Industry and startups located anywhere, including in an innovation hub or CoE in the State of Maharashtra, are eligible to receive such assistance. Further, with a view to encourage beneficiary industry and  startups  to  collaborate  with  reputed  Government  academic  and  research  institutions, including  in  Maharashtra,  to  augment  institutional  research  capacities,  for  projects  where capital assets created under such collaboration are transferred by the beneficiary to such an institution, the benefit-share required to be paid in case of successful commercialisation of project outputs will not have to be paid to the extent of the value of the transferred assets. Such capital asset may include lab equipment etc., including in testing facilities.

(e): The scheme is expected to have a positive impact on employment generation, industrial competitiveness and research  capacity in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors in India, including in the State of Maharashtra, through-

- (i) strengthening  of  research  infrastructure  by  fostering  a  world-class  research environment, promoting a culture of high-quality research and developing a robust ecosystem for R&D and innovation;
- (ii) establishment and enhancement of industry-academia linkages in priority areas and the  setting  up  of  CoEs  at  NIPERs  to  nurture  a  strong  talent  pool  of  skilled professionals;
- (iii) enablement of industry in India to leapfrog and reinforce its global position, thereby contributing to quality employment generation in the country; and
- (iv) support for the launch of commercially viable products by beneficiary industries
- and startups, thereby accelerating growth and competitiveness of the sector and securing  sustained  global  competitive  advantage  while  promoting  high-quality employment and entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.
- (f): No such development has been approved by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.

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