​17 MoUs signed for academia-pharma industry linkages

To boost innovation, seven National Institutes for Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) have signed linkage agreements with 17 public and private companies.

The memoranda of understanding (MoU) were exchanged in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee on November 4, according to an official statement.

“The Department of Pharmaceuticals has identified academia-industry linkage as a basic requirement for translating research into development (commercialisation) and iinnovation, and also to fix accountability among the educational institutions,” the statement said, adding that this initiative will be a “historic event in the annals of Department of Pharmaceuticals in its endeavour of making India a global leader in drugs discovery.”

The MoUs related to research collaboration and exchange of scientific personnel were signed by Hyderabad NIPER with Dr Reddy’s Lab, Bharat Biotech and NATCO, and Ahmedabad NIPER with Cadila Pharma and Cadila Healthcare.

For curriculum development and industry project work, Ahmedabad NIPER signed MoUs with Sahjanand Tech and Johnson & Johnson.

MoUs for formulation development were also signed between NIPER Mohali and Sun Pharma and Medley Pharma, for R&D in anti-inflammatory and lifestyle disease segments with Wockhardt, and for collaborative research in metabolic disorders, oncology etc., with Panacea Biotech.

Among the Central public sector enterprises with which NIPERs signed MoUs are Rajasthan Drugs and Pharma Ltd, Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharma Ltd, Bengal Chemicals and Fertilisers and Indian Drugs and Pharma Ltd. 

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/17-mous-signed-for-academiapharma-industry-linkages/article7845963.ece