Under the 'Strategic Indo-Swedish Cooperative Innovation Programme', India and Sweden will soon begin joint research to support long-term Indo-Swedish research and innovation collaboration in the field of health.

The joint research will focus on the broad scientific areas such as determinants of health and disease prevention, developing treatments and treating disease; medical diagnostics; innovative food, improving health promotion and disease prevention; medical devices; and antimicrobial resistance – innovative treatment, diagnostics and preventive strategies.

The goal of the programme is to support long-term Indo-Swedish research and innovation collaboration in the field of Health. The approach is to establish and strengthen collaborative industry and research networks between India and Sweden by funding joint research and innovation projects, exchange visits, demonstration and proof of principle.

For this programme, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (VINNOVA) and the Swedish Research Council (SRC) have invited proposals from the eligible scientists.

The programme is open to Indian and Swedish partners from public, private and non-profit organisations that perform R&D and innovation activities. This includes universities and other academic institutions, research institutes, hospitals, public foundations, industry and SMEs. Applicants must be able to show an engagement and track record in advanced innovation and R&D activities.

Under the scientific areas of determinants of health and disease prevention, developing treatments and treating disease, the focus should be on innovative solutions to prevent, manage, treat and cure disease, disability and reduced functionality in the fields of metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and cancer treatment, etc.

Under the scientific areas of medical diagnostics, the focus should be on addressing and improving needs of understanding health, disease and disease processes at all ages including pre-natal, to develop new and more effective medical diagnostics. Innovative and existing technologies can be developed so that they can be adapted to different environmental and socio-economic conditions in both pre-hospital as well as in hospital settings.

In the area of medical devices, focus should be on addressing innovative solutions for diagnosis, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, that could improve health and quality of life for patients, disabled persons and their families and contribute to addressing the sustainability of healthcare systems. Support will be provide for generating appropriate and affordable health technologies by development of new innovative and existing technologies, by Integration and use of methods in both pre-hospital and hospital settings.

Likewise, in the area of innovative food, improving health promotion and disease prevention, the focus should be on addressing sustainable solutions for a changing life style, disease prevention and nutritional demands or new innovative foods by relating to behavioral, metabolic, epidemiological and nutritional needs. Improved innovative behavioural (life style) interventions, prevention and education programmes can be developed including those pertaining to health literacy in nutrition, vaccination and other primary care interventions.