National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali has signed an agreement with Novartis Healthcare Private Limited (NHPL) to strengthen academia-industry collaboration and accelerate pharmaceutical research and innovation in India.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. 

As part of the collaboration, a faculty member from NIPER Mohali has been selected as the recipient of the Development Pioneer Grant for NIPERs, a Novartis-supported initiative aimed at promoting cutting-edge research and innovation-led partnerships between academia and industry. 

Calling it a strong step in the right direction, Manoj Joshi said such initiatives can significantly improve the relevance and impact of academic research by aligning it more closely with industry needs. He stressed the importance of moving beyond pilot projects and ensuring translational outcomes that support real-world pharmaceutical innovation. 

The grant programme invited R&D proposals from faculty members across all seven NIPERs, receiving 42 proposalsin total. Following a rigorous evaluation by an independent jury, one faculty member from NIPER Mohali was selected for the award. The initiative aligns with the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ broader vision of building stronger industry-academia linkages and enhancing India’s pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem. 

Senior officials present at the signing included Awadhesh Kumar Choudhary, Senior Economic Advisor, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Kinny Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals; Dulal Panda, Director, NIPER Mohali; Joydev Kumar Laha, Professor, NIPER Mohali; Amitabh Dube, Country President India, Novartis; and Sadhna Joglekar, Head Development India, Novartis.