RDIF to promote pharma & medical devices research

RESEARCH by private firms in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical devices is one among the sunrise sectors that will benefit from the Central government's newly launched Rs. 1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF).

- Gireesh Babu

The Ministry of Science and Technology, in a draft special financial rules for the fund, which would be under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, said that Eligible Technology Entities in biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices sectors, which are considered as the sunrise domains among others, will be considered under the RFID, in order to achieve the Government of India's objective.

Artificial Intelligence and its application to Indian problems, including in agriculture, health and education, deep technology including quantum computing, robotics, and space, energy security and transition, and climate action, and digital economy are some of the other sunrise sectors that would be backed by the Fund.