What Happened

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has announced a second call for applications for its Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma & MedTech (PRIP) Scheme. This initiative aims to strengthen research and development within India's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors.

Key Facts

  • The PRIP Scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹5,000 crore.
  • It seeks to support startups, MSMEs, and larger companies in advancing their innovation value chain.
  • Applications are open across two tracks: Early stage and Later stage.
  • Early stage projects from startups and MSMEs, focused on TRL 1-3 technologies aiming for TRLs up to 5, can receive up to ₹5 crore per project. These projects begin with a Concept Note submission.
  • Later stage projects from industry, startups, and MSMEs, focused on TRL 4-6 technologies, can receive up to ₹100 crore per project. This assistance is capped at 35% of the total project cost, with the applicant co-funding the remainder.
  • The submission window on the PRIP portal will open by mid-September 2026.
  • Priority areas include New Medicines (NCE, NBE, Phyto-pharmaceuticals), Complex Generics and Biosimilars, and Novel Medical Devices (e.g., AI/ML-based, robotic, telemedicine-enabled devices).
  • The PRIP scheme was launched in 2023 to promote pharmaceutical R&D, including AI and machine learning, and to build research infrastructure and talent.
  • Applicants who submitted projects under PRIP Round 1 should not resubmit the same project.

Why It Matters

This second call provides further opportunities for companies and innovators to access significant financial support for research and development within critical health sectors. The structured approach, with different tracks for early and later-stage projects, enables a broad range of entities to participate in India's innovation ecosystem.

What To Watch

Interested applicants should monitor the PRIP portal for the opening of the submission window by mid-September. The scheme's emphasis on specific priority areas indicates a strategic focus for national pharmaceutical and medical technology development. Resources for application guidance are available on the PRIP portal.