NIPER-Boehringer MoU & AMRITVA Cohort 2 Launched to Boost India’s Pharma Innovation

New Delhi, February, 21 ,2026: In a major step towards strengthening India’s pharmaceutical ecosystem, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Raebareli signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boehringer Ingelheim India Pvt. Ltd. The MoU aims to foster collaboration in education, research, and development of novel pharmaceutical solutions.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. On this occasion, Cohort 2 of AMRITVA (Alliance for Medicinal Research, Innovation, Translation & Value Acceleration) was also launched. AMRITVA, implemented by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, in partnership with NIPER Raebareli, focuses on accelerating research translation into viable pharmaceutical products and entrepreneurial ventures. The initiative is supported under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Boehringer Ingelheim India.

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Shri Joshi highlighted the importance of academia-industry collaborations in strengthening the research-to-market pipeline. He emphasized that initiatives like AMRITVA are critical for boosting domestic innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship, and ensuring wider access to cost-effective healthcare solutions.

Grant support for innovators:
As part of Cohort 2, five innovators received financial assistance to accelerate commercialization of their research. Three faculty-led projects were awarded ₹8 lakh each, while two research scholar-led projects received ₹6 lakh each.

The MoU also establishes collaboration in areas such as pharmaceutical technologies, novel drug delivery systems, academic exchanges, and capability-building programs. Boehringer Ingelheim will provide access to its opnMe® open science platform, enabling researchers and institutions to accelerate scientific exchange and healthcare innovation.

Senior officials present at the event included Shri Awadhesh Kumar Choudhary, Senior Economic Advisor, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Ms. Anugraha P, Director, Department of Pharmaceuticals; and Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, SIIC, IIT Kanpur.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of transitioning the pharmaceutical sector from a volume-driven to a value-driven model, supporting infrastructure development, industry-academia partnerships, and incubation-led commercialization under the broader framework of Viksit Bharat 2047.