The BRICS BioDesign Programme was formally launched in New Delhi, marking a step towards strengthening collaboration among BRICS nations in healthcare innovation, medical technology and BioDesign. The initiative aims to bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, innovators, industry and academic institutions to develop affordable and scalable healthcare solutions.
The programme was inaugurated by Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The launch included the exchange of a Memorandum of Agreement among participating institutions and the unveiling of the BRICS BioDesign website. The initiative is being led by Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Science & Technology Cluster. The programme will focus on knowledge exchange, joint innovation, capacity building and the development of medical technologies that can move from early-stage concepts to practical deployment.
At AMTZ, the BRICS BioDesign Centre was launched at The Atrium as a platform for need-driven medical technology innovation. The Centre will bring together clinical, design, engineering, prototyping and translational capabilities from across BRICS countries and support cross-border collaboration on healthcare technologies for emerging economies.
Prof Ajay Kumar Sood said, “What makes this programme special is its ability to bring countries, institutions and talent together to solve real healthcare challenges. By combining scientific capabilities and BioDesign expertise, it can accelerate the journey from ideas to products and ultimately to patients.”
Prof Dr Balram Bhargava, Former Secretary, Department of Health Research and Professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, said the Global South must increasingly use its own innovation capabilities to address its healthcare needs. “Through BRICS and BioDesign, countries can come together to identify real needs, develop frugal and affordable technologies, and take them to patients,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Sharma, Managing Director and Founder CEO of AMTZ, said the programme would help create pathways from science to markets and patients. “By bringing together innovators, institutions and industry across BRICS, it can enable co-development, investment and market access while making BioDesign more accessible to emerging economies,” he said.
FICCI Deputy Secretary General Mr Sumeet Gupta said the programme marks the beginning of a shared effort to address healthcare challenges through indigenous, affordable and accessible medical technology innovation. The launch brought together representatives from BRICS partner institutions in South Africa, Russia and Brazil, along with stakeholders from government, industry, academia, research and the innovation ecosystem.
The Science & Technology Cluster will support the initiative by connecting scientific and innovation capabilities with the Centre’s medical technology focus. Aligned with BRICS priorities on innovation, technology and resilient development, the BRICS BioDesign Centre is expected to support sustained collaboration and the development of practical healthcare solutions for communities across the BRICS nations and the Global South.
