Are there any notable joint ventures or partnerships between Indian and international medical device companies?

India’s medical device sector has seen a significant increase in joint ventures and partnerships between domestic and international companies. These collaborations aim to leverage combined strengths in innovation, manufacturing, and market reach. Notable examples include:

1. Wipro GE Healthcare:

• Partnership Details: A joint venture between Wipro Enterprises Limited and GE Healthcare, established in 1990.
• Initiatives: In 2023, Wipro GE Healthcare announced an investment of over ₹8,000 crore to enhance manufacturing output and local R&D over the next five years. This investment aligns with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, aiming to strengthen India’s position as a global MedTech hub.

2. MicroPort and Purple Medical:

• Partnership Details: In 2019, China’s MicroPort Scientific Corporation formed a joint venture with India’s Purple Medical.
• Objectives: The collaboration focuses on manufacturing and distributing cardiovascular devices, combining MicroPort’s technological expertise with Purple Medical’s local market presence.

3. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and General Electric (GE):

• Partnership Details: BEL established a joint venture with GE USA to manufacture high-voltage tanks and detector modules for computed tomography (CT) scan systems and advanced X-ray tubes.
• Impact: This partnership enhances India’s capabilities in producing sophisticated medical imaging equipment.

4. Biocon and Mylan:

• Partnership Details: Biocon, an Indian biopharmaceutical company, partnered with Mylan to develop and market biosimilar products.
• Achievements: In 2017, the U.S. FDA approved their biosimilar for the cancer drug Herceptin, marking a significant milestone in affordable cancer treatment.

5. Biocon Biologics and Serum Institute of India:

• Partnership Details: In 2021, Biocon Biologics entered into an agreement with Serum Institute of India to commercialize vaccines, biological drugs, and antibody therapies.
• Strategic Move: The deal included Biocon selling a 15% stake in its biologics subsidiary to Serum Institute, gaining access to 100 million annual doses of vaccines over 15 years.

6. Japan Lifeline and Meril Life Sciences:

• Partnership Details: In November 2023, Japan Lifeline entered into an agreement with India’s Meril Life Sciences to promote Meril’s transcatheter heart valve, Myval Octacor, in Japan upon regulatory approval.
• Significance: This collaboration aims to introduce advanced cardiac solutions to the Japanese market, leveraging Meril’s innovative products and Japan Lifeline’s market expertise.

7. Siemens Healthineers and Indian Healthcare Providers:

• Partnership Details: Siemens Healthineers has collaborated with various Indian healthcare providers to supply advanced medical imaging and diagnostic equipment.
• Impact: These partnerships enhance diagnostic capabilities across India, improving patient care and outcomes.

8. Japanese Collaborations:

• Initiatives: The Indian government has invited Japanese firms to invest in India’s pharmaceutical and medical device industries, aiming to boost business and trade collaboration between the two countries.

These joint ventures and partnerships have been instrumental in advancing India’s medical device industry by facilitating technology transfer, enhancing manufacturing capabilities, and expanding access to innovative healthcare solutions. They also align with government initiatives like ‘Make in India,’ promoting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.