India and La Trobe University partnership on Research and Innovation

La Trobe University and India’s Biotechnology Industry Research Association Council (BIRAC) have today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish a Bio Innovation Corridor to support research and innovation in medtech.

The Bio Innovation Corridor between India and Victoria will open access and provide landing pad opportunities to entrepreneurs, startups and researchers from both countries.

The LOI will enable La Trobe and BIRAC to scale up and foster collaboration with knowledge-based technologies and ideas leveraging biotechnology, with applications in agtech, food tech, medtech, and for human health and wellness purposes.

La Trobe University vice-chancellor professor Theo Farrell said the University was delighted to announce the creation of the Bio Innovation Corridor.

“This exciting new partnership will offer the skills, infrastructure and capabilities of La Trobe University to Indian startups, entrepreneurs and researchers that have ideas and technologies that can be scaled up for applications and commercialization in Indian and Australian markets,” said Farrell.

“Here, promising start-ups, entrepreneurs and corporates from India can establish their R&D, innovation, product development and commercialization facilities in conjunction with La Trobe through a range of innovative business partnership models.”

The LOI was signed by Farrell and Dr. Jitendra Kumar, managing director of BIRAC, during the Victoria Connect event.

The event was attended by Victorian Prime Minister Jacinta Allan who said the state was a prime location for both international students and collaboration on important research and innovation.

“The agreement between La Trobe University and BIRAC offers enormous opportunities to entrepreneurs and researchers from India through access to La Trobe’s world-class facilities at its campuses in regional Victoria and Melbourne,” said Allen.

La Trobe recently launched a purpose-built Bio Innovation Hub (BIH) that will help startup companies develop new technologies in med tech and drug delivery.

“Facilities like the Bio Innovation Hub and our Digital Innovation Hub are opportunities where Karnataka-based startups and new technology players will be encouraged to co-locate and work in a vibrant biotechnology-based ecosystem for building their businesses,” said Farrell.

The Victoria Connect event in Delhi is showcasing the opportunities between Victoria and India in the higher education and value-adding technology sectors.