In News:

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)–Medical Technology (MedTech).This landmark initiative seeks to accelerate innovation in India’s medical technology ecosystem, reduce dependence on costly imports, and ensure affordable, high-quality healthcare technologies for all.

About the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Launched by: ANRF, in partnership with ICMR and Gates Foundation
• Mission Duration: 5 years
• Deadline for Concept Note Submission: 7 November 2025
• Implemented through: ANRF online portal – www.anrfonline.in

The mission represents a strategic push under the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision to strengthen India’s domestic MedTech sector, which is currently import-heavy and fragmented.

Objectives of the MAHA MedTech Mission

• Public Health Impact:
  • Promote technologies addressing priority disease areas such as tuberculosis, cancer, neonatal and maternal care, and primary healthcare.
  • Expand access to safe, high-quality medical care across India.
• Affordability and Accessibility:
  • Support innovative solutions that reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality standards.
  • Promote equitable access to advanced medical devices, especially in rural and underserved regions.
• Self-Reliance and Competitiveness:
  • Catalyze indigenous research, manufacturing, and commercialization in MedTech.
  • Foster industry–academia collaboration and boost India’s global competitiveness in medical innovation.

Scope of the Mission

The MAHA MedTech Mission will support a wide range of medical technologies and innovations, including:

• Medical devices and equipment
• In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and subcomponents
• Implants and surgical instruments
• Assistive and wearable devices
• Consumables and disposables
• AI/ML-driven software-based medical platforms
• Robotics, imaging, and minimally invasive technologies
• Point-of-care and molecular diagnostics

These innovations will target priority national health areas, promoting early disease detection, efficient treatment delivery, and improved healthcare infrastructure.

Funding Mechanism

• Milestone-linked funding:
  • ?5–25 crore per project
  • Up to ?50 crore for exceptional projects with transformative potential.
• Eligible Applicants:
  • Academic and R&D institutions
  • Hospitals and clinical research centers
  • Startups and MSMEs
  • Established MedTech industries
  • Interdisciplinary collaborations between public and private entities

The funding structure encourages translational research, product prototyping, clinical validation, and commercialization of indigenous medical technologies.

Enabling Support Framework

The Mission also provides institutional and regulatory facilitation through several national support programs:

• Patent Mitra:Facilitates intellectual property protection, patent filing, and technology transfer.
• MedTech Mitra:Provides regulatory guidance, helps in obtaining clinical and market approvals, and supports compliance with national and international standards.
• Clinical Trial Network:Offers access to a national network of hospitals and research centers for clinical validation and evidence generation.
• Mentorship and Industry Linkages:Access to industry mentors, market experts, and commercialization partners to support end-to-end product development.