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Empowering
innovators and manufacturers, the institute is shaping India’s rise as a global
hub for medical device excellence
Vishakhapatnam: Commemorating
the birth anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — the visionary who ignited
India’s pursuit of self-reliance through science and technology — India’s
medical technology ecosystem today stands at an inflection point. Driving this
transformation is the Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT), a pioneering
initiative of the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) that has evolved into a
national catalyst for indigenous R&D, evidence-based policies, and
affordable innovation in healthcare technology. Since its inception in 2017,
KIHT, an initiative of Union Government’s Department of Biotechnology, has
fueled India’s Med Tech innovation by supporting the development of over 100
products and creating a robust scientific ecosystem.
With
India’s medical device industry projected to reach USD 50 billion by 2030, KIHT
is steering a movement that connects the nation’s scientific ingenuity with
global market readiness. Established to build coherence among researchers,
manufacturers, policymakers, and knowledge repositories, KIHT bridges the gap
between academic innovation and industrial application, shaping India’s
evolution into a self-reliant and globally competitive MedTech hub.
Speaking
on the pivotal role of KIHT, Dr. Jitendra Sharma, Founder CEO and Managing Director,
AMTZ and Founder Executive Director of Kalam Institute said, “The establishment
of KIHT within AMTZ marked a strategic leap for India’s biomedical innovation
landscape. Our goal was never just to manufacture devices — it was to build an
ecosystem where science, policy, and industry evolve together. The scientific
ecosystem in India is now robust; our laboratories and R&D capabilities are
among the world’s best and well-established for over 25 years. The next big
leap is to strengthen the commercial ecosystem — to take science from lab to
market, from innovation to industry.”
Dr.
Sharma further added, “We are in process of enabling a MedTech Capital Fund to support growth-stage MedTech companies and take
them towards IPO-readiness. In addition, AMTZ has acquired a World Trade Center
(WTC) license, making it the only cluster in India — and the only one globally
— to host both a WHO Collaborating Centre and a World Trade Center. This
connects us to 392 WTCs across more than 100 countries, expanding India’s
MedTech reach through global trade linkages. The aim is clear — to turn scientific
success into commercial.”
As
the scientific ecosystem matures, KIHT and AMTZ are now deepening their focus
on commercialization. Around 165 companies currently operate within AMTZ,
including nearly 40 foreign entities, collectively making it one of the most
vibrant and diversified MedTech manufacturing clusters in Asia. This synergy is
yielding tangible global impact. Recently, AMTZ has aggregated over 300 medical
products from 26 companies in the zone to fulfill a large export order from
Tajikistan, showcasing India’s growing ability to meet international demand
with indigenous technologies.
KIHT’s
multidisciplinary approach spans policy support, technology consultancy,
testing and validation, transfer of technology, and evidence-based R&D
facilitation. Through strategic partnerships with premier academic and research
institutions, KIHT ensures innovators gain access to AMTZ’s state-of-the-art
infrastructure — from advanced biomaterials and 3D printing labs to
electromagnetic compatibility and imaging research centers.
Emphasizing
KIHT’s mission, Dr. Kavita Kachroo, Chief Operating Officer, KIHT, said: “Our
goal is to transform innovation into impact. KIHT accelerates
research-to-market journeys by enabling innovators and startups with technical
guidance, access to expertise, and continuous industry engagement. By merging
the academic knowledge base with AMTZ’s manufacturing capabilities, we are
building a pipeline of medical devices that meet both Indian and global
standards.”
Over
the years, KIHT has actively supported national programs on medical device
innovation, policy development, and standards creation, while playing a key
role in India’s pandemic preparedness during COVID-19. Its continuous
engagement with regulatory bodies, academia, and international partners ensures
that India not only keeps pace with global MedTech trends but sets new
benchmarks in cost-effective, quality-driven healthcare innovation.
Aligned
with Dr. Kalam’s vision of self-reliance, KIHT’s efforts go beyond innovation —
they focus on ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare, promoting the
‘Make in India’ ideology, and positioning the nation as a global hub for
MedTech research, development, and trade.
About KIHT
The Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT) at Andhra
Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) is known for being the first WHO collaborating
centre (WHO-CC) for innovations. KIHT is a Union government project of the
department of biotechnology, was established at in July 2017 as part of the
Make in India initiative. It aims to foster focussed research, policy support
and innovation in India’s medical device sector. By increasing synergy among
R&D institutions, policymakers, and industry, KIHT increases the development
of affordable high quality healthcare technologies. Its vision “Evolving
Medical Technology through Coherent Synergy” reflects its mission to strengthen
India self reliance in Medtech innovation and improve access to advance
healthcare solution for all
