IIT Kharagpur’s DSIR-CRTDH on Affordable Healthcare Enters Sustainable Phase
Kharagpur, September 5, 2026: The Common Research and Technology Development Hub (CRTDH) on Affordable Healthcare at IIT Kharagpur has entered a sustainable phase, marking a significant step towards strengthening the development, commercialisation and last-mile deployment of affordable healthcare technologies.
The sustainable phase of the Hub was inaugurated by Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR, at the Ben Gupta Auditorium, IIT Kharagpur. The programme was organised as part of the institute’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The CRTDH was established in 2019 under the CRTDH Scheme of DSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. After successfully completing its initial grant-supported phase, the Hub has transitioned to a self-sustaining model.
Under the new model, the facility will meet its operational costs through user fees, industry sponsorships and translational partnerships, while continuing to support MSMEs, startups, innovators and other stakeholders with research infrastructure, technical expertise and technology-development facilities.
Over 20 healthcare technologies transferred
During the event, Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur and Principal Investigator, CRTDH, presented the journey of the Hub from 2019 to 2026.
Operating from a 5,000-square-foot facility, the CRTDH has facilitated more than 20 technology transfers, with several technologies already moving into commercialisation.
The Hub has also worked with clinical and non-governmental organisations to establish rural health units aimed at taking affordable healthcare technologies to underserved communities.
Prof. Chakraborty highlighted the importance of frugal innovation, particularly for healthcare settings where sophisticated infrastructure may not be readily available. He emphasised that technologies intended for frontline health workers need to be robust, accessible and suitable for real-world conditions.
Focus on indigenous medical technology
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi highlighted the role of DSIR and the CRTDH network in helping MSMEs, startups and individual innovators strengthen indigenous capabilities in medical technology.
She noted that the continuation of a CRTDH beyond the period of government support represents an important intended outcome of the programme, enabling such facilities to serve industry and innovators through a sustainable operational model.
She also stressed that greater utilisation of CRTDH facilities can help strengthen India’s indigenous technological capabilities, promote self-reliance in medical device technologies and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Rural health workers take diagnostics to underserved communities
A key part of the event was the participation of frontline health workers trained under the Hub’s skilling programmes.
Fifteen frontline health workers from remote villages, including areas of the Sundarbans and Birbhum, shared their experiences of deploying affordable diagnostic technologies within their communities.
Trained and certified under the Hub’s programmes in line with the objectives of Skill India, these workers are operating rural health units alongside healthcare delivery structures under the National Health Mission.
The rural health units support communities through services including:
- Health screening
- Referral support
- Follow-up services
- Deployment of affordable diagnostic technologies
The initiative is aimed particularly at communities where access to diagnostic facilities remains limited or intermittent.
MSMEs share lab-to-market experiences
During the MSME Voices session, enterprises mentored by the CRTDH shared their experiences of transforming laboratory prototypes into commercial products.
The participating enterprises were felicitated by Dr. Kalaiselvi and Prof. Suman Chakraborty.
The event also featured an exhibition of technologies developed at the CRTDH and products commercialised by partner enterprises, allowing researchers, industry representatives, government officials and other participants to interact directly with innovators.
Technology, skilling and healthcare delivery brought together
The programme highlighted the convergence of frugal technology, local skilling and public health delivery as a potential pathway for extending affordable healthcare solutions to the last mile.
The initiative seeks to address multiple objectives through an integrated ecosystem, including:
- Development of indigenous medical technologies
- Commercialisation of affordable healthcare solutions
- Support for MSMEs and startups
- Skill development and employment opportunities for rural youth
- Improved access to diagnostics in underserved areas
- Stronger industry–academia collaboration
The event was attended by approximately 200 participants, including senior DSIR officials, representatives of chambers of commerce and MSME associations, government MSME development institutions, startups, innovators, clinical partners, rural health workers, faculty members, researchers and IIT Kharagpur students.
DSIR officials including Dr. Vipin Shukla, Dr. Ranjeet Bairwa and Dr. Kailash Petkar were also present. The proceedings were coordinated by Sohom Banerjee, Project Manager, CRTDH, IIT Kharagpur.
The transition of the IIT Kharagpur CRTDH into a sustainable phase is expected to strengthen its role as a national facility supporting affordable healthcare innovation, technology translation and equitable healthcare delivery.
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