ICMR invites proposals for assistive technology research centres, offers up to Rs 15 cr per project

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited proposals from institutions to establish Centres for Advanced Research (CAR) in assistive technology under the National Initiative for Reliable Medical Device Development and Assessment Network - Assistive Technologies (NIRMAN-AT) initiative. Institutions can submit their proposals electronically through the ICMR e-PMS portal at epms.icmr.org.in.

Institutions with multidisciplinary teams in healthcare, rehabilitation, biomedical engineering, and technology development can submit proposals by November 13, 2025 up to 5 pm.

The budget for the proposal can be up to Rs 15 crores per CAR, for a maximum period of five years. The budget shall be formulated under ICMR extramural research heads and in accordance with prevailing ICMR guidelines.

“This is a valuable opportunity to translate research into affordable, accessible, indigenous technologies that empower persons with disabilities and improve lives. Researchers, faculty members and eligible institutions are encouraged to explore this call and collaborate across disciplines,” an official notice read.

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ICMR Research Centre: Eligibility, process to submit proposal

As per the eligibility, the proposal is open to investigators from institutions eligible for ICMR extramural research support.

The principal investigator must be a regular faculty member, scientist with demonstrated extensive experience in health-technology development, clinical, rehabilitation research, biomedical engineering or a closely related area.

The proposed CAR should demonstrate a multidisciplinary team with relevant clinical, rehabilitation expertise and engineering, product development capability, participation of an appropriate clinical specialist and technology-development expert must be integral to the proposal.

The team should demonstrate a verifiable track record relevant to the proposed work, including, as applicable, prototype development, clinical validation, patents, technology transfer, start-up incubation, manufacturing translation, or deployment of health technologies.

Supporting evidence of such experience should be provided with the proposal. Access to target users/patient populations and suitable facilities for usability studies and clinical evaluation/validation, field feasibility studies, where applicable.

Institutional commitment to sustain the research, technology-development and translation ecosystem beyond the period of ICMR support.

Collaboration with other academic institutions, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, start-ups, industry partners or user organizations is highly encouraged to be included when essential to the programme.