In a significant move towards the growth of the healthcare technology sector in India, Ireland-headquartered Medtronic had announced an investment of approximately Rs 3000 crore, earlier this year, to expand the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad. MEIC is Medtronic’s largest research and development (R&D) centre outside of the US. In addition, Medtronic is supporting the Government of Telangana’s efforts to position Hyderabad as a global hub for healthcare technology research and innovation. In conversation with MedTech Spectrum & BioSpectrum, Divya Prakash Joshi, Vice President & MEIC Site Leader, Medtronic talks about the new investment and the future plans of MEIC.

What prompted Medtronic to invest such a significant amount in expanding the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad?

Medtronic's decision to strategically invest in the Medtronic Engineering & Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad is driven by several key factors. Firstly, India's healthcare technology sector offers immense growth potential, and Medtronic recognises the country's importance as a global hub for innovation and talent. Hyderabad, in particular, has emerged as a thriving ecosystem for healthcare technology research and development, with a pool of skilled professionals and strong government support. By expanding MEIC in Hyderabad, Medtronic aims to leverage these opportunities and foster collaboration with local eco system and stakeholders to drive innovation and advance patient care. The investment reflects Medtronic's commitment to investing in India's healthcare ecosystem and delivering innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers.

What are the major hiring plans in India in the coming times, and under what skill/expertise, especially with new emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries?

Healthcare technology has primarily focused on engineering skills like electrical engineering or mechanical engineering but we are expanding to areas like digital and other aspects of software as the newer trends evolve. MEIC currently employs 850+ people, primarily engineers, and is expected to grow to 1500+ over the next 5-year period. With this expansion, MEIC aims to leverage the sizeable pool of diverse and skilled talent in India involving engineering, mobile apps, application and desktop software, cloud / web apps, data engineering, embedded software, product security, and cyber-product security. The investment will support in key healthcare technology areas like robotics, imaging and navigation, surgical technologies, and implantable technologies.  and will create significant job opportunities across various niche skill sets like software, data engineering, product security, robotics, kinematics, etc.

The team would continue to collaborate with global R&D units in surgical technologies, imaging and navigation, enterprise software – IoT in Cardiac and Neuro implantables etc.

iWith emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries gaining momentum, how does MEIC envision incorporating these advancements into its operations and offerings in India? Are there any specific plans to leverage these technologies to enhance patient care?

Our collaborative approach with a focus on research excellence, and close alignment with Medtronic's global strategy ensure the delivery of innovative solutions that address critical healthcare challenges, improve patient outcomes, and drive Medtronic's growth in the global market.

We recognise the growing importance of emerging technologies such as robotic surgeries in advancing patient care. And our team of 50 engineers played an important role in the launch of the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS system – a robotic assisted surgery platform. The centre contributed to a wide range of areas, including software, hardware, systems engineering and quality.

MEIC envisions incorporating these advancements into offerings in India by actively investing in research and development activities, collaborations with healthcare professionals in partnership with the commercial Medtronic India team, and partnerships with academic institutions and technology providers.

What role does MEIC play in Medtronic's overall strategy for product development and global market expansion?

R&D is part of Medtronic’s overall global strategy. Medtronic invested $2.7 billion in R&D globally in FY22. As Medtronic's largest innovation centre outside of the United States, in R&D and Quality & Regulatory, MEIC serves as a critical hub for innovation and collaboration working with 15 operating units, across technologies and across multiple global R&D units. The teams at MEIC are working on R&D that is mainly related to software and engineering to drive product development initiatives, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and enhance existing product portfolios. As announced, the investment of approx. Rs 3000 crore will be spent over the next five years on physical infrastructure as well as human and scientific capital.

The centre’s expertise and capabilities contribute to the development of new healthcare technologies that meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare providers worldwide. MEIC's collaborative approach, focus on research excellence, and close alignment with Medtronic's global strategy ensure the delivery of innovative solutions that address critical healthcare challenges, improve patient outcomes, and drive Medtronic's growth in the global market.

Dr Manbeena Chawla

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)