As part of the National Biotechnology Development Strategy-2014 (Biotech Strategy II), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) aims to develop simple, rapid, indigenous, low cost medical devices and implants by applying four major components i.e. affordability, accessibility, availability and appropriateness.

In fullfilment of the Biotechnology Vision-2020 and realising that biotechnology has the potential to be a globally transformative intellectual enterprise of humankind, the DBT had recently issued the draft Strategy to establish India as a world class biomanufacturing hub for developing and developed markets.  

The Strategy aims to produce a large number of medical technology innovators and also aims to expand multi-disciplinary, team-based program across the country to train engineers and physicians for clinical immersion through biodesign process in India. The Strategy aims for standardisation and protocol testing of biodesign products and also proposes to establish collaboration with various international institutes and universities.

As part of the Strategy, the DBT will initiate inter-institutional Ph.D programme, innovation award, overseas fellowships, etc. and will create quality manpower in engineering school in partnership with medical schools for multidisciplinary research, skilled technicians, manufacturing engineers and regulatory staffs.

The Strategy for the next five years includes to establish biodesign inter-institutional centre at Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad with large number of faculty, proper infrastructure and facilities such as platform technology, validation unit, pre-clinical, clinical trials; and expansion of biodesign concept in other IITs, medical schools and institutes across the country. Besides, the DBT will create an effective National Biodesign Alliance with the partnering institutions (virtual) with a secretariat at THSTI, Faridabad.

To achieve this Vision-2020, the Biotech Strategy proposes to create replica of biodesign concept at other IITs, medical schools and institutions; and to promote ideas generation for medical devices innovation and inter-disciplinary research. It also proposes lowering the import of medical devices by indigenous innovation and fast market implementation.

As part of the Strategy, the DBT will introduce healthcare technologies including biodesign in the curriculum of medical and engineering schools for undergraduate and post graduate programmes. It will develop infrastructure for product development such as laboratories for animal studies, prototypes development and validation studies of the developed products; and manufacturing capabilities such as cluster capability, low volume incentives (tax) and quality certification.