SIIC IIT Kanpur and Boehringer Ingelheim India join hands to support socially impactful innovations
Kanpur : The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), the technology business incubator of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boehringer Ingelheim India, a leading global pharmaceutical company. The MoU was signed on World Tuberculosis Day, 24th March 2023, at IIT Kanpur in the presence of dignitaries from SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Boehringer Ingelheim India. Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-charge, Innovation and Incubation, IIT Kanpur, and Mr. Prabhat Sinha, Director, Government and Public Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim India, were the signing authorities for this MoU exchange.
The purpose of this collaboration is to extend support to nationally significant innovations developed at SIIC, IIT Kanpur, with a specific emphasis on healthcare solutions that leverage technology to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. The focus will be on socially beneficial innovations that can drive transformational change in the healthcare industry.
As a part of this collaboration, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide support to Lenek Technologies, one of the startups incubated at SIIC, IIT Kanpur. Lenek Technologies aims to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) by improving the screening process through its innovative handheld X-ray device, which has the potential to bring about a significant change in TB screening in areas where resources are limited.
“We are pleased to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim India, a global leader in pharma innovation, in our mission to support socially impactful innovations. This Memorandum of Understanding is a testament to the power of collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation and creating positive social impact. With this partnership, we aim to leverage our collective expertise and resources to nurture and promote innovative ideas that can bring about significant societal changes,” said Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director of IIT Kanpur.
“At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are committed to transforming lives with the help of innovation. This collaboration aligns with our commitment to finding innovative solutions that positively impact patients’ lives and society. We look forward to working closely with the startup community to drive meaningful change,” said Sandip Agarwal, Interim Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim India.
Speaking on this collaboration, Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor–in–Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, said, “This association is a significant stride in our shared objective of supporting socially impactful start-ups that can transfer positive change to society. With this collaboration, we aim to create a conducive environment for young innovators to turn their ideas into successful ventures. Our partnership is assumed to harness the synergies of our respective capabilities, culminating in new and pioneering ideas that can spur economic progress in India.”
Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Co- Professor-in-Charge, Innovation and Incubation, at IIT Kanpur, said, “This partnership is an extraordinary opportunity for start-ups working towards creating social impact through innovative healthcare solutions. With the expertise and resources of both organizations, we can provide a comprehensive support system that will enable these start-ups to develop and scale their solutions, ultimately leading to better healthcare outcomes for our country,”
In 2021, India reported 20 Lakh cases of tuberculosis, which accounts for around 27% of the global burden of the disease, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s annual TB report. With the rising burden of TB in the country, the partnership will enable Lenek technologies to expand its reach and continue to work toward eliminating tuberculosis and helping improve millions of lives.
This collaboration between SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Boehringer Ingelheim India is a significant step towards supporting socially impactful innovations and addressing critical health challenges in India.