The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boehringer Ingelheim India, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to advance solutions in the field of dementia care.

The Boehringer Ingelheim India team, comprising Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Managing Director, and, Mr. Prabhat Sinha, Director of Government and Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs, visited SIIC, IIT Kanpur, to strengthen their partnership in fostering healthcare innovations. The MoU was exchanged between Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, MD Boehringer Ingelheim India.

Upon signing the MoU, Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, emphasized the far-reaching effect of this support, stating, “SIIC, IITK is home to medical technologies with a strong social impact. Boehringer Ingelheim's support aligns perfectly with our vision to create a healthy India for all. It enables us to empower the startup community, fostering an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration. Together, we are not just dreaming of a better future, we are actively building it.”

Boehringer Ingelheim’s grant supports Manastik Technologies, a SIIC-incubated startup at IIT Kanpur, in developing India's first tele-neurorehabilitation app for dementia care and diagnosis. Using DADT technology, the app offers personalized assistance from doctors and neuro healthcare professionals, addressing the growing burden of dementia and mental health disorders in India. The grant will help validate the app, raise awareness, and support nationwide dementia screening campaigns. Previously, in 2023, Boehringer Ingelheim supported Lenek Technologies, another SIIC-incubated startup, in improving Tuberculosis screening with a handheld X-ray device. 

Highlighting the significance of this partnership, Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Managing Director, Boehringer Ingelheim India, said, "Our second collaboration with IIT Kanpur reinforces our belief in the power of collective innovation. We bring together scientific communities, patients and healthcare systems to develop new, holistic, and sustainable breakthrough therapies that address healthcare's greatest challenges. With every innovation, we are not just advancing science, but also redefining the possibilities for patient care, aiming for a future where everyone has access to the best treatments and health outcomes.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2019, India ranked as the fourth largest contributor to the global burden of dementia. Projections suggest that by 2050, India will surpass Japan and the USA to claim the second highest number of dementia cases globally. This collaboration addresses the growing challenge of dementia in India.

The longstanding partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim and SIIC, IIT Kanpur, underlines their shared goal of promoting socially beneficial technologies. This visit not only benefits startup Manastik but also encourages interaction among Boehringer Ingelheim and other healthcare startups at SIIC, nurturing potential future collaborations.