The first Regional Young Investigators’ Meeting (RYIM) of the 2024 – 2025 series, a flagship networking event by IndiaBioscience, took place in Visakhapatnam from 18^th-20^th September. Co-organised by GITAM Deemed to be University (GITAM) and Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Pvt. Ltd. (AMTZ), RYIM Visakhapatnam, marked the first of its kind in the ​“City of Destiny.” The first two days were hosted at GITAM’s picturesque, seaside campus, while the third day unfolded at the AMTZ campus, the world’s largest medical technology manufacturing cluster.

The RYIM Visakhapatnam team brought together a dynamic group of young investigators (YIs) from bioscience disciplines, including neuroscience and cancer research at GITAM, along with key resource personnel from AMTZ. Notably, AMTZ’s Center of Excellence for Additive Manufacturing (CoE-AM) was a highlight, where cutting-edge ideas are continuously researched and prototyped for a wide array of medical device applications. 

The synergy between AMTZ’s industrial ecosystem and the academic environment at GITAM created a unique platform to achieve the overarching goal and theme of the meeting: Bringing academia closer to medical technology innovation.

Building careers in science

The three-day event kicked off with a pre-conference workshop titled ​“Crafting Your Career (CYC)” for Masters and PhD researchers from regional institutes. This specially curated CYC workshop equipped participants with the crucial skills needed to confidently navigate their career paths in science. Arushi Batra, Program Manager-Digital Initiatives, IndiaBioscience, led the session, co-trained by Avijit Banik, Associate Professor, GITAM School of Science. They covered essential topics such as career development in science, skill-building, and effective strategies for job applications. Students actively participated in engaging activities, such as mock interviews and elevator pitches. 

The trainers introduced the participants to alternative career avenues like scientific writing, patent applications, and science illustration, while emphasising the importance of mentorship in shaping successful scientific careers. The workshop received an enthusiastic response, with over 65 students and scholars attending from various institutes across Vizag, Vijayawada, Guntur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, and Wayanad. The hands-on approach and practical insights provided during the CYC workshop were highly appreciated by all the participants. One attendee remarked,

This workshop was very interactive, and I learnt a lot about myself. The CYC helped me think out-the-box.

Synergy between academia and industry

The following two days of RYIM Visakhapatnam centred around a series of invited talks, plenary sessions, structured panel discussions, and networking opportunities that highlighted collaborative strategies between academia and industry. YIs also showcased their cutting-edge, industry-aligned research through poster presentations and flash talks, fostering an exchange of innovative ideas. Additionally, participants toured the GITAM Analytical Research Facility and the AMTZ campus, encouraging further brainstorming and potential collaborations in medical technology innovation. 

The event drew over 140 participants from seven cities across India, enhancing the scope for interdisciplinary networking and partnership.

The RYIM commenced with a unique ​“no garland” inaugural session, led by K. S. Krishna, Dean of the GITAM School of Science, who emphasised the importance of hosting this event in Visakhapatnam to foster collaborative research in the region. Following this, Arushi Batra from IndiaBioscience, talked about how various initiatives by IndiaBioscience are empowering YIs across the country. Batra also highlighted the IndiaBioscience-EMBO collaboration, noting that the RYIM meeting received support from EMBO through childcare grants provided to participants.

Archana Bharadwaj Siva, Senior Principal Scientist and Head of the Innovation Hub at The Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, delivered a plenary address that underscored the vital partnership between academia and industry in driving innovation. Siva urged YIs to embody resilience and rationality when seeking funding opportunities from both national and industrial organisations. She also highlighted the newly proposed BioE3 policy directions by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, aimed at providing innovation-driven support for R&D and entrepreneurship. This initiative is set to accelerate the development and commercialisation of medical technologies through the establishment of Biomanufacturing and Bio-AI hubs and Biofoundries.

In a mentor talk, Sunil Laxman, an EMBO Global Investigator at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (DBT-inStem) in Bangalore, shared the journey of YIs navigating academia-industry collaborations. 

Laxman offered invaluable insights on remaining open-minded in the early stages of these ventures and highlighted the funding opportunities available for industry-driven research, providing attendees with practical guidance for their future endeavours.

In another talk, Ravi Kumar Pallantla, Senior Scientist, Vantage Research, Chennai, addressed the academic responsibility of cultivating a skilled workforce for the med-tech industry. He proposed that the goals of higher education should encompass two overlapping, non-mutually exclusive categories: first, advancing fields like science, technology, policy-making, justice, and the arts to contribute to human progress — an aspiration often pursued through academia; and second, tailoring educational curricula to enhance job opportunities, growth, and career satisfaction within the medical technology sector. He cited the recently launched MBA program in Health Care & Hospital Management, developed in partnership with AMTZ, as a prime example of this industry-aligned approach.

Translational research and innovation

There were insightful presentations from three distinguished speakers representing various knowledge clusters across Hyderabad, Pune, and Visakhapatnam, all centred on bridging the divide between academia and industry on the second day of the RYIM. Priya Nagaraj, Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC), discussed the process of nurturing biotech start-ups at PKC and emphasised the translation of industrial innovations from the laboratory to the marketplace. Viswanadham Duppatla, IKP Knowledge Park, Hyderabad, shared inspiring success stories illustrating how a Medical Technology Park can serve as a catalyst for industry innovations.

Suseela Branham, CEO, Bio Valley Incubation Council, AMTZ, highlighted the diverse platforms offered by AMTZ’s incubation centres, particularly the cutting-edge and cost-effective medical devices developed during the pandemic. All the speakers underscored the importance of encouraging students and scholars to embrace and pursue industrial opportunities, even in the absence of immediate financial rewards.

They emphasised that engaging with translational Research and Development (R&D) in the industry offers unparalleled insights that can help close the gaps between academia and industry, ultimately paving the way for more fruitful collaborations in the future.

In addition to the formal sessions, networking dinners and city tours at scenic seaside locations facilitated informal and open exchanges between participants and invited speakers. These relaxed settings provided a wonderful opportunity for meaningful discussions, demonstrating how a welcoming environment can enhance engagement and learning over a shared meal.

Key takeaways from the meeting

The RYIM Visakhapatnam successfully delivered on the proposed objectives to accelerate biomedical innovations in the region in collaboration with academia and industry. 

The meeting delivered on several important avenues in the area: 

• How Govt initiatives are shortening the gaps between academia and industry

• Academic responsibilities for creating skilled workforce for med-tech industry

• Academic skill sets required in the students for industrial aspirations

• Need of industry curated coursework towards biomedical innovations

• How Medical Technology Clusters can foster the industrial innovations

• Networking sessions to enhance interactions between Young Investigators (YIs)

• Funding opportunities curated for industrial R&D fostering Make in India initiatives

• Showcasing core R&D infrastructures at GITAM and AMTZ to open up more collaborative research in the region 

RYIM Visakhapatnam laid a strong foundation for ongoing academia-industry partnerships, with a clear focus on driving innovation and building stronger ties in the biomedical sector. This event has set a precedent for future meetings, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to R&D in India.