The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has rolled out a targeted grant scheme to propel the development of home-grown medical technologies and reduce India’s dependence on imported devices. The ICMR MedTech Grant Scheme, formally notified on January 18, 2026, represents a strategic effort to convert promising research into clinically validated, affordable, and commercially viable products that meet the unique needs of India’s diverse healthcare landscape.

The scheme operates in three distinct phases with escalating funding support: Phase 1 (proof-of-concept and early feasibility) offers up to ₹1 crore; Phase 2 (prototype development and pre-clinical testing) provides up to ₹2 crore; and Phase 3 (clinical validation, regulatory pathway support, and pre-commercialisation) can extend up to ₹3 crore. Total funding per project can reach ₹6 crore across all phases, subject to milestone-based disbursal and rigorous evaluation.

Priority thematic areas include affordable point-of-care diagnostics, low-cost imaging and monitoring devices, surgical instruments and implants tailored for Indian patients, AI/ML-enabled clinical decision support tools, telemedicine and remote monitoring solutions, and technologies addressing high-burden conditions such as maternal and child health, tuberculosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Special emphasis is placed on innovations that improve access in rural, tribal, and low-resource settings while ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability.

Eligibility is broad: startups, MSMEs, academic institutions, public research laboratories, and public-private consortia can apply. Proposals must demonstrate strong scientific merit, clear path to commercialisation, affordability for Indian patients, and potential for significant public health impact. The scheme mandates inclusion of end-user feedback (clinicians, patients, or community representatives) during development and requires successful applicants to commit to preferential pricing for government procurement and domestic manufacturing.

The application process has been designed for speed and transparency: online submission through the ICMR e-Portal, multi-stage expert review, and decisions within 4–6 months. Selected projects receive not only funding but also mentorship from ICMR scientists, access to regulatory guidance (CDSCO fast-track pathways), clinical trial support through ICMR networks, and linkages to manufacturing partners and investors.

This initiative builds on earlier ICMR efforts such as the mIND (Medical Innovation for Next Decade) programme and aligns with national priorities under Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for medical devices. By directly funding the innovation0 pipeline from lab to bedside ICMR aims to reduce the current 70–80% import dependence on high-value medical technologies and foster a vibrant domestic ecosystem capable of serving both Indian needs and global markets.