The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Mohali has signed an agreement with Novartis Healthcare Private Limited (NHPL) to strengthen academia industry ties and promote cutting edge pharmaceutical R&D. As part of the collaboration, a faculty member from NIPER Mohali received the Development Pioneer Grant under a Novartis supported initiative aimed at translating academic research into real-world innovations
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The agreement was formalised on April 15, 2026, in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals. Out of 42 research proposals submitted by faculty from all seven NIPERs, one from NIPER Mohali was selected after evaluation by an independent jury. The partnership seeks to align academic research with industry needs, move beyond pilot projects, and deliver translational outcomes that advance India’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem.
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Mohali has entered into a strategic agreement with Novartis Healthcare Private Limited to foster greater collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry. This partnership focuses on advancing research and innovation in the pharma sector, with an emphasis on bridging the gap between academic discoveries and practical applications that can benefit patients and the industry.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of senior government officials, including Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. As part of this initiative, Novartis has introduced the Development Pioneer Grant for NIPERs to encourage high quality, industry relevant research. A total of 42 proposals were received from faculty members across all seven NIPER institutions. An independent jury carefully evaluated the submissions and selected one faculty member from NIPER Mohali as the grant recipient.
Manoj Joshi welcomed the collaboration, noting that such initiatives can significantly enhance the relevance and impact of academic research by aligning it more closely with industry requirements. He stressed the importance of progressing beyond small scale pilot projects toward translational research that produces tangible outcomes for real world pharmaceutical innovation and strengthens India’s position in the global pharma landscape.
Key officials present included Awadhesh Kumar Choudhary, Senior Economic Advisor; Kinny Singh, Deputy Secretary from the Department of Pharmaceuticals; Dulal Panda, Director of NIPER Mohali; and Joydev Kumar Laha, the selected faculty member. Representing Novartis were Amitabh Dube, Country President India, and Sadhna Joglekar, Head of Development India.
This development aligns with the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ broader vision of building robust industry academia linkages to create a more vibrant and innovation driven pharmaceutical ecosystem in the country.
“Such initiatives can greatly enhance the relevance and impact of academic research by bringing it closer to industry requirements. We need to move beyond pilot projects and focus on translational outcomes that can contribute to real-world pharmaceutical innovation.”
By
HB Team
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