The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) licensed nine technologies to industry partners under its Medical Innovations–Patent Mitra initiative in New Delhi. During the inaugural session of the India MedTech Expo 2025, the ceremony resulted in 17 licensing deals for innovations developed by various ICMR institutes in the areas of infectious disease diagnostics, immunodiagnostics and vaccine development.

The Medical Innovations–Patent Mitra initiative, launched on 8 March, 2025 during the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA 2025), was developed under the guidance of NITI Aayog. It is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The initiative aims to streamline the patenting process, strengthen intellectual property support and accelerate the transfer of publicly-funded innovations to industry for large-scale implementation.

Technologies licensed during the ceremony included the following:

• Multi-stage Malaria Vaccine licensed to Indian Immunologicals, Techinvention Lifecare, Panacea Biotec, Biological E and Zydus Lifesciences
• Diagnostic ELISA kits for the detection of IgM antibodies against Japanese Encephalitis virus licensed to Diatek Healthcare and Medsource Ozone Biomedicals
• Diagnostic ELISA kits for the detection of IgM antibodies against Dengue virus licensed to Diatek Healthcare and Medsource Ozone Biomedicals
• Diagnostic ELISA kits for the detection of IgM antibodies against Chikungunya virus licensed to Diatek Healthcare, Medsource Ozone Biomedicals and Matrix Labs
• The AFuPEPLISA immunodiagnostic kit for detecting antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus in patient sera licensed to Medsource Ozone Biomedicals
• A colorimetric isothermal (LAMP) assay for rapid detection of Monkeypox virus licensed to SmartQR Technologies
• A colorimetric RT-LAMP (isothermal) assay for rapid detection of Nipah virus also licensed to SmartQR Technologies
• A novel glycoconjugate Salmonella vaccine licensed to Biological E
• A novel oral Shigella vaccine based on Multi-Serotype Outer Membrane Vesicles (MOMVs) licensed to Biological E

The initiative ensures that life-saving tools developed through public research are available to communities across India. The manufacturing strength and distribution networks of industry partners will be instrumental in expanding the reach and impact of these technologies. This public-private partnership is a powerful catalyst for advancing India’s healthcare goals and plays a vital role in the journey towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The India MedTech Expo 2025, taking place from 4^-6 September, 2025, provides a platform to showcase India’s growing leadership in the health and medical technology sectors, bringing together all the stakeholders, such as PLI participants, start-ups, MSMEs, innovative entrepreneurs, R&D facilities, incubators, as well as public and private hospitals.