Alkem Foundation Partners with IIT Bombay to Boost Healthcare Innovation
Alkem Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Alkem Laboratories, has decided to amalgamate with IIT Bombay to establish an advanced research centre in India. This hub focuses on further research on immunotherapeutics and regenerative medicine.
The new “Alkem Centre for Advanced Research and Development of Applied Immunotherapeutics and Regenerative Medicines” will be housed within the IIT Bombay Campus. The Alkem Foundation has announced funding for this establishment and will contribute approximately 20-25% of its cumulative CSR obligations over a seven-year period.
Purpose of the Collaboration
The goal of this initiative is layered. To create a national model for collaboration between industry and academia in India, innovation that fosters an affordable and impactful healthcare, and ultimately position India as a prominent global leader in applied biotechnology. The partnership is aimed at constructing a comprehensive ecosystem that supports innovation, research and skill development in complex and underserved therapy areas, particularly in high-precision medicines. Additionally, this also focuses on bridging critical gaps in infrastructure, talent, and translational capability.
Along with the research activities, the centre will act as a training hub for clinician scientists and entrepreneurs from the biotech area, which further empowers the nation’s translational research.
Madhurima Singh, executive director and chairperson of the CSR and sustainability committee at Alkem, said, “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to developing healthcare solutions by India for India and the world”. Though the Indian Government encourages R&D, only a small share of corporate CSR is going directly to the research, she emphasised.
Meanwhile, IIT Bombay Director Shireesh B Kedare added that the partnership will enable clinical breakthroughs, reduce import dependency and head towards self-reliance in progress in healthcare innovation.
Overall, this collaboration between a top academic institute and the funding industry opens doors for new research and innovative possibilities. The initiative hopes to speed up the cutting-edge research in therapies that are both effective and affordable. This paves the way for building a sustainable pipeline from acquiring talent to creating an infrastructure in these growing and critical sectors.
