Vizag to Launch India's First Medical Technology University
Monday, 09 September 2024, 12:52 IST
Visakhapatnam's Andhra Pradesh Medical Technology Zone (AMTZ) is set to establish India’s pioneering ‘Global MedTech University’, marking a significant development in the country’s medical technology sector. The university, scheduled to begin operations in the 2025-26 academic year, will be the first of its kind in India. It will be established through a public-private partnership, involving collaboration with industry leaders and stakeholders.
The new institution will offer a diverse range of academic programs tailored to the needs of the medical technology field. These will include an MBA focused on medical regulatory approvals and entrepreneurship, MTech degrees in medical technology devices and bioengineering, and PhD programs. The university will also benefit from its proximity to AMTZ’s existing ecosystem of nearly 140 companies, providing students with valuable hands-on training and direct interaction with industry experts who will also serve as faculty and potential employers.
Prof. Hanumanthu Purushotham, the university’s founding director, highlighted the critical need for such an institution. He noted that a significant portion of India's medical equipment demand is currently met through imports, largely due to the lack of specialized educational and research opportunities in medical technology and regulatory affairs. “This university aims to address the gap between the industry’s growing manpower requirements and the current educational landscape”, said Prof. Purushotham. “Many medical technology companies are forced to recruit graduates from other fields and then train them. Our institute will directly cater to the unique needs of the industry, equipping students with skills that are in high demand”.
Prof. Purushotham, who previously served as the CMD of the National Research Development Corporation and the DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor at Andhra University, emphasized the university’s commitment to collaborating with leading international institutions. This approach will help broaden its educational scope and technological capabilities, providing students with cutting-edge learning experiences in the medical technology domain.
In addition to his new role, Prof. Purushotham was recently relieved of his duties as the DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor at Andhra University on September 6. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. Sashi Bhushana Rao, and Registrar, Prof. Dhananjaya Rao, commended him for his substantial contributions to fostering an intellectual property rights (IPR) culture at the university. Under his leadership, Andhra University introduced several IPR courses, including a one-year IPR program and made IPR a mandatory credit course for all students.
The launch of the Global MedTech University represents a significant step forward in advancing medical technology education in India, promising to create a new generation of skilled professionals ready to meet the industry's evolving demands.
The new institution will offer a diverse range of academic programs tailored to the needs of the medical technology field. These will include an MBA focused on medical regulatory approvals and entrepreneurship, MTech degrees in medical technology devices and bioengineering, and PhD programs. The university will also benefit from its proximity to AMTZ’s existing ecosystem of nearly 140 companies, providing students with valuable hands-on training and direct interaction with industry experts who will also serve as faculty and potential employers.
Prof. Hanumanthu Purushotham, the university’s founding director, highlighted the critical need for such an institution. He noted that a significant portion of India's medical equipment demand is currently met through imports, largely due to the lack of specialized educational and research opportunities in medical technology and regulatory affairs. “This university aims to address the gap between the industry’s growing manpower requirements and the current educational landscape”, said Prof. Purushotham. “Many medical technology companies are forced to recruit graduates from other fields and then train them. Our institute will directly cater to the unique needs of the industry, equipping students with skills that are in high demand”.
Prof. Purushotham, who previously served as the CMD of the National Research Development Corporation and the DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor at Andhra University, emphasized the university’s commitment to collaborating with leading international institutions. This approach will help broaden its educational scope and technological capabilities, providing students with cutting-edge learning experiences in the medical technology domain.
In addition to his new role, Prof. Purushotham was recently relieved of his duties as the DPIIT-IPR Chair Professor at Andhra University on September 6. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. G. Sashi Bhushana Rao, and Registrar, Prof. Dhananjaya Rao, commended him for his substantial contributions to fostering an intellectual property rights (IPR) culture at the university. Under his leadership, Andhra University introduced several IPR courses, including a one-year IPR program and made IPR a mandatory credit course for all students.
The launch of the Global MedTech University represents a significant step forward in advancing medical technology education in India, promising to create a new generation of skilled professionals ready to meet the industry's evolving demands.
