Wipro GE Healthcare Inks MoU with IISc to Propel Medtech Innovation in India

IISc and GE Healthcare will form a joint working committee to drive collaborative research for product and solution development.

Wipro GE Healthcare, a global leader in medical technology, diagnostics, and digital solutions, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), a premier research institution. This strategic collaboration aims to spearhead healthcare innovation, research, and technology development within India.

The collaboration between Wipro GE Healthcare and IISc seeks to bridge the care gap comprehensively. It involves co-developing solutions, validating technologies, and local manufacturing to bring innovative healthcare solutions to the market swiftly.

The impending launch of the Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital & IISc Medical School is expected to play a pivotal role in translating these technologies from bench to bedside.

Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a global health concern, accounting for 71% of total deaths worldwide, as reported by the World Health Organisation in 2018.

In India, NCDs were estimated to contribute to 63% of all deaths, with cancer being a significant cause (9%). This collaboration aims to focus on indigenous innovation and manufacturing of medtech products tailored to meet the needs of patients suffering from NCDs, including cancer, cardiology, and neurology.

Talking about the collaboration, Govindan Rangarajan, director, IISc, said, "We see a tremendous need for innovative R&D that can improve outcomes in patients with NCD. GE HealthCare is the right partner for us in this initiative, given its leadership and strong footprint in India for R&D and manufacturing. We are confident that together, we can accelerate India's position as a global force for healthcare for the world."

Further, the collaboration emphasises combining science and engineering with translational & clinical research to epitomise "bench-to-bedside" innovation.

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Driving Self-Reliance in Healthcare

The collaboration aligns with the agenda of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India), emphasising the advancement of indigenous innovation and manufacturing in the medtech sector.

The goal is to meet the healthcare needs of both global and local populations. This joint effort between industry and academia is envisioned as a catalyst for transformative change in healthcare outcomes.

The collaboration will encompass co-development initiatives in basic and applied science, systems engineering, product and software development, consultancy and publications, academic studies, internships, fellowships, and training.

Both IISc and GE Healthcare will establish a joint working committee, bringing together representatives from both sides to drive research around product and solution development.

The collaboration reflects the Indian government's emphasis on fostering local R&D and manufacturing in the medtech sector. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models are considered instrumental in driving technology development to address the evolving healthcare landscape.

"India today is at an inflection point, with the potential to become the hub for the world. IISc is a premier educational institute engaged in technical education, basic and applied research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial consultancy and GE HealthCare is a world leader in MedTech with strategic R&D and manufacturing footprint in India." Chaitanya Sarawate,MD, Wipro GE Healthcare and president & CEO, GE HealthCare South Asia, said in a statement.

The Wipro MD further noted that this strategic collaboration combines the strengths, capabilities, and local infrastructure of both entities. The aim is to invest in technologies of the future that can revolutionise the care paradigm with more precise, connected, and compassionate care to patients in India and worldwide, he added.

As both entities pool their expertise and resources, the collaborative efforts are expected to drive innovation, improve the indigenisation of manufacturing, and strengthen the overall healthcare ecosystem.

In another development, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers, in collaboration with Aster-CMI Hospital, developed an Al tool to identify the median nerve in ultrasound videos and detect carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

This newly developed AI tool is a machine-learning model that segments the nerve in individual video frames and measures its cross-sectional area. Further, it can help doctors diagnose CTS faster and more accurately, especially for people with repetitive hand movements that can compress the median nerve.