The Pharma-Tech Converge 2025, hosted by IIHMR Bangalore at The Capital Hotel, Guntur, on 11th April 2025, brought together leading voices from government, academia, and the pharmaceutical industry. The event served as a strategic platform to address the evolving needs of India’s pharmaceutical landscape and the role of academia in shaping a future-ready, skilled workforce.
Exploring the Future of Indian Pharma With the theme centered around innovation, AI integration, and industry-academia collaboration, the event focused on how the pharmaceutical sector in India can adapt and thrive amid global changes. The gathering emphasized the urgent need for curriculum reform, innovation, and greater collaboration to bridge the gap between academic training and industry demands.
Distinguished Guests and Keynote Speakers The event was graced by prominent figures such as:
- Sri G. Veerapandian, IAS, Commissioner, Health & Family Welfare & MD, NHM, Andhra Pradesh (Chief Guest)
- Sri Pattanshettu Ravi Subash, IAS, CEO, Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva Trust & In-charge Director General – Drugs Control, Andhra Pradesh (Guest of Honour)
- Mr. Subrangshu Banerjee, Business Unit Head, Cipla Limited (Keynote Speaker)
- Dr. C S Kedar, IAS (Retd.), Former Director General ESIC, Governing Board Member, IIHMR Bangalore (Chief Patron)
- Dr. Usha Manjunath, Professor & Director, IIHMR Bangalore (Chief Patron)
Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
Dr. Usha Manjunath highlighted the growing disconnect between academia and industry and the urgent need to fill the skill gap. She showcased IIHMR Bangalore’s four key pillars—Academics, Research & Consultancy, Training, and ADMIRE (Centre for Advancing Digital Health)—and shared success stories from projects like NFHS (Tripura) and NABH consultancy.
Dr. C S Kedar emphasized the significance of healthcare workforce development and called for policy attention to sustain India’s role as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
Sri G. Veerapandian urged the sector to focus on human-centric innovation and digital transformation, citing India’s global strategic advantages and local initiatives to strengthen pharma R&D and manufacturing.
Sri Pattanshettu Ravi Subash echoed the state government’s focus on preventive healthcare and encouraged leveraging AI to improve public health outcomes.
Mr. Subrangshu Banerjee provided an in-depth analysis of AI’s impact across the pharma value chain, from R&D to supply chain optimization.
Panel Discussions
Panel 1: From Present Realities to Future Potentials: Insights into India’s Pharmaceutical Industry
- Moderator: Mr. Indraneel Sinha, Marketing Lead at Medtronic
- Speakers: Dr. Srinivasa Babu P, Dr. Shaik Gouse Sadak, Dr. Puppala Raman Kumar
Panel 2: Shaping the Next-Gen Pharma Workforce: The Role of Academia in a Changing Industry Landscape
- Moderator: Mr. Himanshu Verma, Director Strategy – Healthcare Consulting, Ingenious e-Brain
- Speakers: Dr. A Suneetha, Mr. Virendra Kumar, Dr. Usha Manjunath
Key Takeaways
- India’s Pharma Sector: A Growth Powerhouse: Projected to grow from $50B (2023) to $130B (2030) and $450B by 2047.
- AI and Digital Disruption: Transforming R&D, sales, regulatory processes, and patient engagement.
- Innovation as a Pillar: Research-oriented thinking is crucial for accessible and affordable pharma solutions.
- Skill Gap and Curriculum Reform: Graduates need more industry-aligned skills and experiential learning.
- Strengthening Industry-Academia Collaboration: Emphasis on internships, joint research, and guest lectures.
- Diverse Career Opportunities: Emerging fields include health informatics, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory tech.
Conclusion Pharma-Tech Converge 2025 reaffirmed IIHMR Bangalore’s role as a thought leader and catalyst in shaping India’s pharma talent. The event paved the way for stronger industry-academia ties, future-forward curriculum design, and preparing students to become agile, innovative leaders in the pharmaceutical domain.
Stay tuned for more such impactful events from IIHMR Bangalore that bridge knowledge with practice, and learning with leadership.
