International Technology Transfer Facilitation Program
Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC) is a non-profit registered Trust conceived by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmadabad, with technical support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s Cluster Development Program in India. FMC strives towards making cluster initiatives inclusive with the help of a pool of distinguished national and International experts. The core team members of FMC have provided advisory, research, advocacy and training based support to over 20 public institutions in India and similar institutions in eight developing/transition economies.
IKP Knowledge Park (formerly known as ICICI Knowledge Park) is a non-profit Science and Technology Park based in Hyderabad, and is recognized as the premier biotech park in India. Having been in operation since 2000, IKP mentors 20 start-up companies in pharma and biotech, and provides shared infrastructure to another 15 small and medium enterprises. IKP has played a stellar role in developing the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry in the Hyderabad region. IKP’s Board is comprised of eminent scientists and thought leaders in the biotechnology/pharma innovation and entrepreneurship area.
About the project: FMC is currently implementing a Department of Science and Technology (DST, GoI) project titled “Promoting Innovative Clusters in India”. The ultimate aim is to accelerate the development of innovative companies in biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device areas through cluster development, technology acquisition and innovation fostering. As part of this project, IKP and FMC have teamed up to facilitate technology transfer from Indian and overseas research institutions and companies to Indian companies. The first step was to conduct a technology demand assessment survey in Hyderabad and Ahmadabad, to understand Indian companies’ attitudes to in-licensing, technology requirements and risk tolerance. IKP and FMC interviewed about 50 companies to compile a database of technology requirements. The next step is to aggregate technologies based on the expressed requirements and conduct tech transfer workshops in Ahmadabad and Hyderabad in the last week of January. To this end, IKP and FMC have entered MOUs with technology aggregators and leading universities in the USA. The workshops will be conducted on track basis with technology presentations in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical devices. FMC and partners also intend to facilitate funding support for technology acquisition by interested companies. IKP and FMC welcome participation by likeminded partners.