IIT Hyderabad's CfHE calls for applications for fellowship programme

The Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) at Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad has called for applications for the fifth batch of its fully-paid fellowship.

The startups and alumni of this fellowship have developed solutions for major healthcare issues affecting India, including COVID-19 pandemic, besides infant mortality and other issues, read a statement.

The programme is open to candidates with medical, engineering and design degrees. It offers a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 during the first year of training. The number of fellowships to be offered this year is 25.

CfHE incubator offers design and 3D fabrication facilities for prototyping of solutions and testing of medical devices and serves as a rapid acceleration platform for the fellows and startups.

Speaking about CfHE fellowship, Professor BS Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, "A need was felt to usher in innovation and incubation culture in academic institutions. IIT Hyderabad has always been progressive to address such needs. With a strong research in Biomedical Engineering, and a lot of faculty from other departments engaged in interdisciplinary research in allied areas, it was only appropriate to identify healthcare as the theme for this endeavour."

This full-time in-residence fellowship and training will be strongly hands-on. The programme follows a structured and comprehensive package of the curriculum.

"The fellows will undergo clinical immersions in private and public hospitals. They will also be taught the bio-design process by IIT Hyderabad faculty and will have access to mentors, industry professionals and investors, besides advisors," the statement said.

Professor Renu John, Head, CfHE and Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, said, "The fellowship in healthcare entrepreneurship at CfHE is one of its kind in the country and the diversity of domain expertise that is available with CfHE has been one of the critical strengths in driving this program successfully."

A three-stage selection process with shortlisting at each stage shall be used including general aptitude, skills, entrepreneurial orientation of the candidates and a 'hackathon'.

( With inputs from ANI )