IIT Kanpur And Blockchain For Impact Forge Strategic Partnership In Healthcare (Image: @IITK)The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) and Blockchain For Impact (BFI) announced a strategic partnership on April 16, 2024, under the BFI-Biome Virtual Network Program to nurture innovations and drive advancements in healthcare in India. An MoU was signed between Prof. Kantesh Balani, Dean of Resources and Alumni (DoRA), IIT Kanpur; and Dr. Gaurav Singh, CEO of BFI.
As part of this collaboration, BFI will support IIT Kanpur in promoting entrepreneurial initiatives through the Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur. BFI has pledged to allocate over $150,000 USD across three years to develop programs specifically tailored to healthcare-focused startups at IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC).
According to the institute statement, this partnership will help IIT Kanpur to leverage leadership in fostering entrepreneurship and BFI’s commitment to advancing biomedical research. The partnership aims to develop impactful solutions that address critical gaps in India’s healthcare landscape.
Sharing his excitement about the collaboration, Prof. Kantesh Balani, DoRA, IIT Kanpur, said, “I am very optimistic about the partnership between IIT Kanpur and BFI. This MoU will help us share knowledge, support startups effectively, and improve our capacity-building efforts.”
Dr. Gaurav Singh, CEO of BFI, also expressed his delight about the partnership, stating, “Meeting the IIT Kanpur incubates was incredibly inspiring. Their boundless energy and unwavering dedication to healthcare innovation are truly awe-inspiring.” He added that IIT Kanpur’s exceptional support for these entrepreneurs aligns perfectly with BFI’s mission of accelerating impactful solutions in biomedical research. This will help in addressing critical gaps in India’s healthcare landscape.”
The institute stated that the partnership between IITK and BFI signifies a significant step forward in advancing healthcare innovation in India. By bringing together diverse expertise and resources, this collaboration holds immense promise for improving public health and ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare for all.
Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IITK, Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, Co Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IITK, Dr. Satya Prakash Dash, Senior Advisor, BFI, and Dr. Pooja Agrawal, Program Director, BFI were also present at the event.