Recently, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Gates Foundation, has launched the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA)-Medical Technology.

About MAHA MedTech Mission
The MAHA MedTech Mission, launched in October 2025, is an Indian national initiative designed to boost the country's medical technology sector. An acronym for "Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas—Medical Technology," the scheme was launched by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Core objectives
The mission seeks to accelerate innovation, indigenous production, and affordability of medical technologies in India with three main objectives: 

• Enhance public health: Support the development of technologies that address priority diseases like tuberculosis and cancer and expand access to high-quality healthcare.
• Promote self-reliance: Encourage local development and manufacturing to reduce India's reliance on expensive, imported medical devices.
• Improve affordability and accessibility: Foster cost-effective and inclusive solutions to make medical technology more widely available. 

Scope of the mission
The program will support the development of a broad range of medical technologies, including: 

• Medical devices: Implants, surgical tools, and assistive devices.
• Equipment: Diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, including components.
• Diagnostics: In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and point-of-care testing.
• Advanced technologies: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning platforms, robotics, advanced imaging, and minimally invasive procedures.
• Software: Software-based medical solutions. 

Funding and support
The mission provides substantial support to catalyze innovation: 

• Funding: Projects can receive milestone-linked funding of ₹5–25 crore, with up to ₹50 crore available for exceptional cases.
• Beneficiaries: Eligible entities include academic and R&D institutions, hospitals, startups, MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), and industry collaborations.
• Application process: The mission uses a two-stage application process, starting with a concept note submission, followed by a full proposal for shortlisted applicants. 

Enabling ecosystem platforms
Beyond financial assistance, the mission offers various forms of support through integrated national initiatives: 

• Patent Mitra: Provides assistance with intellectual property (IP) protection and technology transfer.
• MedTech Mitra: Helps with regulatory guidance and market clearances for new technologies.
• Clinical Trial Network: Facilitates clinical validation and evidence generation.
• Mentorship: Offers guidance from industry experts to prepare technologies for commercialization.

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