IIT Kanpur, KGMU Lucknow jointly launch SIB-SHInE fellowship programme

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Lucknow have jointly launched a School of International Biodesign - Synergizing Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIB-SHInE) programme. The programme is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 cohort until July 20 2022. Students can apply at sibshine.com.

The program offers one-of-its-kind opportunities to young minds to become biomedical entrepreneurs and launch one’s own venture, with a living allowance, and access to global MedTech industry mentors. The selected fellows will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 60,000.

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Stalwarts in biodesign and clinical innovation, medical technology development, entrepreneurship and finance management will instruct and mentor the fellows of the programme.

SIB-SHInE is a year-long full time dedicated residential fellowship programme aimed at creating the next generation of biomedical entrepreneurs. The fellowship programme will promote development of India-specific, globally relevant medical devices, as per an official statement from IIT Kanpur.

The programme is sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. IIT Kanpur and KGMU are the second set of institutes after IIT Delhi and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi to launch this programme.

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The programme will commence with the deployment of a multi-disciplinary team of SIB SHInE fellows, selected through rigorous screening, who will undergo clinical immersion at KGMU Lucknow. During clinical immersion, the fellows will shadow doctors and identify various unmet clinical needs. Upon completing their clinical immersion, fellows will move to IIT Kanpur to begin the prototype development for the identified biomedical problems, the statement added.

Professor Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur said, “At IIT Kanpur, there has been a significant acceleration in research and innovation in the MedTech domain. Our aim is to enrich the health ecosystem of our nation with indigenous and low-cost MedTech devices and services. This SIB SHInE fellowship sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), is essential in this regard. The fellowship will not only further research and innovation in the MedTech domain, but most importantly will pave the way ahead in realizing our vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat by supporting indigenous talent with critical R&D and entrepreneurial support.”