Kanpur, February 20, 2026: Cohort 2 of AMRITVA (Alliance for Medicinal Research, Innovation, Translation & Value Acceleration) was launched at the office of the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. In the recently held launch event, Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, announced the winners for Cohort 2 of the programme.

AMRITVA is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-supported initiative of Boehringer Ingelheim India Pvt. Ltd., implemented by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, in partnership with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli. The programme aims to translate academic and institutional pharmaceutical research into entrepreneurial and market-oriented initiatives, thereby strengthening India’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the importance of industry–academia collaboration in accelerating research translation and promoting innovation-driven growth in the pharmaceutical sector. The initiative was highlighted as a significant step towards fostering indigenous research, supporting startup creation, and enabling affordable healthcare solutions.

Under Cohort 2, five winners were awarded grant support to advance their research towards commercialization. Three faculty members received grants of ₹8.0 lakh each, while two research scholars received grants of ₹6.0 lakh each. In addition to financial assistance, the selected grantees will receive structured mentorship, regulatory guidance, intellectual property support, and market-access advisory to enable the development of viable products and ventures.

The AMRITVA programme follows a structured capacity-building approach that includes mentorship sessions, entrepreneurial orientation, exposure to industry best practices, and handholding support to facilitate the transition from laboratory research to scalable healthcare solutions. The initiative focuses on priority areas such as drug discovery, formulation development, advanced drug delivery systems, and other emerging domains within pharmaceutical sciences.

The programme reflects a collaborative effort to strengthen India’s pharmaceutical research and development ecosystem, promote innovation-led entrepreneurship, and contribute to national economic growth and public health outcomes.

About the AMRITVA Program:

AMRITVA (Alliance for Medicinal Research, Innovation, Translation & Value Acceleration) is a CSR-supported initiative of Boehringer Ingelheim, implemented by SIIC IIT Kanpur in partnership with NIPER Raebareli. The program aims to translate academic and institutional pharmaceutical research into entrepreneurial and market-oriented initiatives.

About SIIC, IIT Kanpur:

Established in 2000, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur is one of the India’s earliest and largest technology business incubators with over 25 years of experience. Currently nurturing over 500 startups, SIIC provides comprehensive support in domains including defense, aerospace, fintech, healthcare, and sustainability. SIIC operates under the Foundation for Research & Innovation in Science & Technology (FIRST), a Section-8 company promoted by IIT Kanpur.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialized schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in