Tech Mahindra, BioNEST to Drive Research and Co-Innovation in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology

Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business re-engineering services and solutions, and BioNEST, a bio-incubator formed with the support of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology – “UoH-BIONEST”, have announced a collaboration to drive research and co-innovation in pharmaceutical and biotechnology space.

The enterprises have signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to enable development of new technology platforms, and to foster the pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation ecosystem in the country.  The MoU was signed in the presence of Prof. Podile Appa Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, Prof. Gandham Prasad, Director, TIE-U, Prof. Pallu Reddanna, Project investigator, UoH-BioNEST, Mr. Kandimalla Venugopal, Global Head Healthcare and Life Sciences, Tech Mahindra, Dr. Palakodeti, Ratnakar, Head Life sciences and Healthcare, Tech Mahindra, and other dignitaries.

Tech Mahindra’s collaboration with BioNEST will also enable industry and academia partnership, and ensure efficient exchange of knowledge in the area. Tech Mahindra will also provide technical and business mentorship for IP (Intellectual Property) and technology management, legal and contract, resource mobilization and networking platform.

Venugopal Kandimalla, Global Head, Healthcare and Life Sciences, said, “Tech Mahindra has delivered excellence in Healthcare and Life Sciences ecosystem. We have a comprehensive understanding of research and innovation in the biotechnology space, especially towards bringing the latest technologies to the fore and commercializing the concepts to solutions.”

Healthcare and Life Sciences vertical at Tech Mahindra works on new ideas and concepts by leveraging digital technologies. As the technology partner of BioNEST, Tech Mahindra will assist in providing all the technology support for the incubates within the center, along with joint go-to-market opportunities .

Dr. P. Ratnakar, Practice Head-  Life sciences, said, “This perfect blend of scientific research and technology stimulates the growth of the new process and products for the global Pharmaceutical and Biotech markets. Tech Mahindra’s partnership with BioNEST will further strengthen the innovations required for the Life Sciences ecosystem.”

With state of the art facilities, the bio-incubator with a size of 20000 sq. ft., is located at the School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad.

Prof. P. Reddanna, Principal Investigator, BioNEST, said, “BioNEST at University of Hyderabad was set-up in 2018 with the Support of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Government of India Enterprise under Dept. of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology. BioNEST has the vision to support and nurture an environment conducive for start-ups in the areas of Biology and Biotechnology and promote bio-entrepreneurship. It provides incubation facilities for budding entrepreneurs, anywhere in the country, to transform their innovative ideas into products.”

Prof. Podile Appa Rao, considers this memorandum of understanding between UoH-BioNEST and Tech Mahindra will bring high-motivation among young entrepreneurs, and hoped for better translational outcomes through the culmination of information technology and artificial intelligence to the Life Sciences arena.

Tech Mahindra’s TechMNxt charter is all about “Collaborative Disruption”, and focuses on creating an ecosystem that supports collaboration in the real sense. As a step in this direction, Tech Mahindra has collaborated with some of the most exceptional start-ups, academia, drawing from the millennial workforce, and jointly creating cutting-edge technology solutions with partners.