Agilus Diagnostics hosted Scotland’s Secretary of State, Douglas Alexander, and a high-level Scottish delegation at its Goregaon laboratory in Mumbai, putting the spotlight on opportunities for UK-India collaboration in diagnostic technology, research and the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

 

Facilitated by the British Deputy High Commission Mumbai, the visit offered the delegation a first-hand look at Agilus’s laboratory infrastructure, microbiology capabilities and potential applications of emerging diagnostic technologies in India.

 

A key focus was Edinburgh-based Microbira Limited’s rapid microbial testing technology, which was demonstrated at the facility. The delegation also received an overview of Agilus’s business and laboratory network, discussed Microbira’s plans for the Indian market and toured the Microbiology Department where the technology is installed.

 

The technology is designed to rapidly identify microorganisms responsible for infections and detect antimicrobial resistance, potentially enabling faster, more informed treatment decisions.

 

The visit comes against the backdrop of a potential £10 million export opportunity for Microbira in the Indian diagnostics market, highlighted by the Scotland Office. The opportunity underscores the growing scope for Scottish diagnostic technology companies to expand into India. However, the commercial scope of any potential collaboration involving Agilus Diagnostics, including investment commitments, remains unfinalised.

 

Vijender Singh, MD & CEO, Agilus Diagnostics, said: “India's diagnostics sector presents significant opportunities for growth and innovation. Engagements with international technology companies can help bring advanced capabilities to India and assess their relevance to local healthcare needs. This visit was an opportunity to showcase Agilus's capabilities and explore potential areas of collaboration.”

 

The discussions also placed the spotlight on the shared India-Scotland interest in addressing antimicrobial resistance through research, innovation and the adoption of advanced diagnostic solutions.

 

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “India and Scotland have an opportunity to work together on antimicrobial resistance through research and innovation. The visit to Agilus Diagnostics showcased the potential of rapid microbial testing technology and the scope for collaboration to help tackle infections faster.”

 

Highlighting the operational and clinical considerations involved in adopting new technologies, Deepak Sanghavi, Senior Vice President Operations & Chief of Mumbai Reference Lab, Agilus Diagnostics said: “The visit enabled us to showcase our microbiology capabilities and discuss the potential of emerging technologies. Collaboration with international innovators can help evaluate solutions that meet clinical needs while maintaining the quality and operational rigour required for diagnostic testing at scale.”

 

In a separate engagement, Agilus Diagnostics hosted nine UK diagnostics companies at its Goregaon facility on October 26, 2026, as part of the UK–India Diagnostic Cohort programme. The initiative provided the companies an opportunity to experience Agilus’s laboratory capabilities and explore potential areas of partnership.

 

Through these engagements, Agilus Diagnostics is looking to deepen international industry dialogue and evaluate emerging technologies that could strengthen India's diagnostic ecosystem, particularly in areas such as rapid microbial testing and antimicrobial resistance detection.