Glimpse of second BID workshop at PGIMER, CHANDIGARH, INDIA: 31st May 2019

The second BID Hub workshop was organized with a theme: Role of Biomedical Incubators/Hub in Bringing Innovation to the Healthcare System. This unique multi-disciplinary workshop was attended by approximately 150 delegates from various medical and engineering institutes of North India along with the representatives from the medical instruments industry.

Prof GD Puri, Chairman, BID Hub welcomed the delegates and elaborated on the objectives of this event. He stressed that this Hub is going to provide a common platform for engineering as well as medical scientists to develop indigenous and affordable technology for the benefit of Indian health care problems. He informed that 10 projects for developing various biomedical instruments have already started and the initial experience is very encouraging.

Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, Chief Guest launched the web portal www.biomedhubpgichd.com of Biomedical Hub &elaborated that this workshop is going to serve as a great platform for doctors, engineers and industry personnel to exchange their ideas and give them a practical shape in the form of affordable devices that will be of tremendous help in patient care.

Prof Arun Kumar Grover, Former Vice Chancellor, Punjab University, Chandigarh; the dignitary guest for the event applauded the initiative of developing the Biomedical Hub in the region. He also discussed the potential role of CRIKC institutions in making such an initiative a great success.

Dr Girish Sahni, Former Director General CSIR, Govt. of India motivated the budding innovators with his interactive talks about his journey of a successful biologist and innovator and he stressed the need of such innovative hubs in the country. He said that innovation is indeed a challenge and India is well poised to achieve success in the development of biomedical devices if all the stakeholders like industry, doctors, Engineers, and technicians come together at a single platform to do the much-needed brainstorming.

Prof Joseph Mathew elaborated the various quality control steps involved in the functioning of the BID Hub so that high-quality projects are supported by DST. He informed that the Hub is going to select and support innovative ideas on biomedical instruments and devices by providing guidance and support in designing, development, testing and clinical validation.

About 10 different presentations on various innovative ideas for prospective technical & financial support from PGI, CSIO, Panjab University, Panjab Engineering College, MMD University, IIT Mandi, and by industry experts were made during this event. Prof Sanjeev Puri talked about the role of ‘Punjab University as a Technology Enabler’.During the deliberations, important topics like patent issues as well as policy matters pertaining to innovation, designing, clinical validation and marketing were discussed. Mr Saurabh Arora, a registered Indian Patent Agent, delivered an informative lecture on “How to Protect Your Intellectual Creation”.Dr Shyama Nagarajan talked about the role of biomedical incubators in bringing innovations to the market whereas Dr Amitabh Dutta discussed the ‘Ethical Considerations of Introducing New Technology/Innovations’. The event concluded with an interactive discussion with the presented delegates’ with a vote of thanks by Prof GD Puri.