New Delhi: Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Gates Foundation, has launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)-Medical Technology (महा MedTech). The initiative seeks to accelerate innovation in India’s medical technology sector, enhance self-reliance, and expand access to high-quality, affordable medical solutions.
The Mission will provide funding support to Academic and R&D institutions, hospitals, startups, MSMEs, the MedTech industry, and collaborative projects between entities. Projects will receive milestone-linked funding of ₹5–25 crore per project, with exceptional cases eligible for up to ₹50 crore. The goal is to bring impactful MedTech solutions from concept to market.
Key objectives of the Mission include driving public health impact by supporting technologies addressing priority disease areas, ensuring affordability and accessibility, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in medical technology development and manufacturing.
The scope of the Mission covers a wide range of medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics, including equipment, implants, assistive and surgical devices, consumables, and software-based solutions. It encourages projects in areas such as advanced diagnostic imaging, minimally invasive technologies, point-of-care molecular diagnostics, AI/ML-enabled platforms, robotics, and other emerging technologies, with alignment to national health priorities including tuberculosis, cancer, neonatal care, and primary health care.
Beyond funding, the Mission will provide enabling support through national initiatives such as Patent Mitra for IP protection and technology transfer, MedTech Mitra for regulatory guidance, a Clinical Trial Network for evidence generation, and mentorship from industry experts.
The application process will follow a two-stage system. Concept Notes are open from 15 September to 7 November 2025 through the ANRF portal (www.anrfonline.in) to screen and prioritise projects. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals, with the window opening in December 2025.
BI Bureau
