PRIP Scheme aims to transform Indian PharmaMedTech Sector

• 10 Dec 2025
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PRIP Scheme full form is Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector. For those wondering what is PRIP Scheme, it is a Government of India initiative by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to boost R&D in pharma and medical devices.

Recently, amidst the ongoing Winter Parliament session, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 9 December 2025, explained how the PRIP Scheme aims to transform the Indian PharmaMedTech Sector.

Objective of PRIP Scheme

In the reply, Smt. Patel mentioned that the objective of the PRIP Scheme is to transform the Indian Pharma MedTech sector from cost based to innovation-based growth by strengthening the research infrastructure in the country. 

According to her, behind the recent amendments in the scheme, the rationale was to allow for smooth implementation, bring greater clarity in governance and make benefit-sharing mechanisms more effective.

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Key Features of PRIP Scheme

The key features of PRIP Scheme include the following :-

The scheme has two components, i.e., Component A:- Strengthening the research infrastructure through setting up of centres of excellence at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and Component B:- Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech sector.

• Component A:- Under this component, infrastructure by establishing centres of excellence at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs). A total of seven centres have been set up, with one at each of the seven NIPERs located in Mohali, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Raebareli, Hajipur and Hyderabad.

• Component B:- Promoting research and innovation in the Pharma MedTech sector. This component provides financial assistance to support research and development (R&D) aimed at creating products and technologies or accelerating the validation of R&D outputs for market launch and large scale commercialization. The three priority areas include new medicines, complex generics and biosimilars and novel medical devices. Under this component, the Department of Pharmaceuticals is inviting applications for research and innovation projects from the pharmaceutical and MedTech industries as well as startups.

Under Component B of the scheme, Early Stage Projects for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups can apply for funding for projects costing up to Rs. 9 crore, with assistance of up to Rs. 5 crore available. For Later Stage Projects, MSMEs, startups and industries may apply for funding for projects costing up to Rs. 285 crore with a maximum assistance of Rs. 100 crore. 

For Early Stage Projects, the financial assistance scale is as follows:- 100% funding is available for costs up to Rs. 1 crore, and 50% of the additional costs beyond Rs. 1 crore with a maximum limit of Rs. 5 crore. 

For Later Stage Projects, the assistance is 35% of the total project cost, increasing to 50% for projects in Strategic Priority Innovation areas with a maximum limit of Rs. 100 crore. The projects included in Strategic Priority Innovation areas must address public health concerns in India that typically have lower market potential. 

For Later Stage Projects in these areas, financial assistance can go up to 50% of the approved total project cost, compared to 35% for projects in other areas, still subject to the maximum limit of Rs. 100 crore.

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Mechanisms under PRIP Scheme

Under the PRIP scheme, the following mechanisms exist to institutionally promote the national pharma-medtech innovation ecosystem :-

• Under Component A, the scheme focuses on strengthening research infrastructure via establishment of Centres of Excellence at the seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research. These institutes are recognized for providing postgraduate and doctoral education as well as conducting high-level research in various pharmaceutical sciences and medical technologies. The centres specialize in areas such as anti-viral and anti-bacterial drug discovery and development, medical devices, bulk drugs, flow chemistry and continuous manufacturing, novel drug delivery systems, phyto-pharmaceuticals and biological therapeutics. The objective is to build specific research capacities in these priority areas while fostering industry-academia collaboration. This initiative aims to enhance the research infrastructure in the pharma medtech sector by providing advanced facilities for research and nurturing a talented workforce.

• Under the PRIP scheme’s component B, the industry and startup get encouragement for flexible collaboration with prestigious government and academic research institutions mentioned in the scheme’s guidelines for developing, translating and commercializing institutional intellectual property and for augmenting the institutional research capacities in India.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)