Parliament Question: Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 936 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 5TH 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 industriesand 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. *****