Pfizer INDovation program awards Rs. 1.5 crore grant to six startups

Pfizer Limited, in collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)-Ahmedabad, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), NITI Aayog, and Social Alpha, has announced six winners of its INDovation program, a healthcare startup initiative aimed at supporting innovative solutions.

Launched in February 2024, this program attracted applications from over 200 startups across India.

The program emphasizes advancements in healthcare, particularly in early screening and cost-effective diagnostic tools, aimed at improving accessibility for underserved communities.

Criteria for selection

To identify the six winning startups, Pfizer and its partners assessed each applicant based on several key criteria: the potential impact of their solutions, technological innovation, uniqueness in value proposition, competitive edge, scalability, and clear future roadmap.

Startups that showed a strong potential for addressing critical healthcare gaps, especially in diagnostics and early screening, were prioritized.

Each winning startup has been awarded Rs 25 lakh from Pfizer to facilitate further development and market entry, with additional incubation support from NIPER-Ahmedabad.

Meet the winning startups

The six startups selected for the INDovation program include:

1. Aarca Research
2. Babycue Pvt Ltd
3. Biolockey Healthworks Pvt Ltd
4. Brela Innovations Pvt Ltd
5. RNT Health Insights Pvt Ltd
6. Utopic Tech Pvt Ltd

These startups were chosen for their innovative approaches to improving healthcare delivery, from developing accessible diagnostic tools to creating technologies aimed at early detection and intervention.

The DoP has also approved these startups for pre-clinical and clinical study support, marking them as pioneers in advancing domestic healthcare solutions.

Leadership comments

Dr. Arunish Chawla, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, highlighted the significance of local innovation in healthcare, stating, “Encouraging indigenous innovation in healthcare is not merely a priority, but a responsibility shared by all who are a part of this ecosystem.”

His statement underscores the department’s commitment to fostering innovation in India’s healthcare sector through collaborations like INDovation.

Pfizer’s Managing Director, Meenakshi Nevatia, expressed confidence in the potential of these startups, saying, “With grants from Pfizer and incubation support from our program partners, I am confident that these start-ups will get the full support to rapidly bring their groundbreaking ideas to the market and deliver the promise of making a significant difference in healthcare delivery in our country.”

Dr. Shailendra Saraf, Director of NIPER-Ahmedabad, emphasized the institution’s dedication to accelerating healthcare innovation, stating, “Through our collaboration with Pfizer, we will offer program acceleration support to help these startups scale their solutions effectively, thus enabling the development of a strong healthcare ecosystem in India.”

Future of INDovation and healthcare innovation in India

With the PRIP (Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech) scheme backing this initiative, these six startups are positioned as the first recipients of funding and support under the new Research Linked Incentive Scheme.

The partnership aims to ensure these startups have the necessary resources and mentorship to transition from the lab to market, enabling practical healthcare solutions accessible to the broader population.

Social Alpha’s founder, Manoj Kumar, emphasized this goal, stating, “By providing comprehensive support, from grants to mentorship to market acceleration, we aim to amplify their potential to create diagnostic solutions that are both accessible and impactful, particularly for communities in need.”