Mohali, May 1
Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, visited the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali today. The Minister arrived at the NIPER Convention Centre where he was accompanied by Manoj Joshi, Secretary; Geetha Ashok, Under Secretary and Dr. Kinny Singh, Deputy Secretary from the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Government of India.
A Board Room meeting was also organised, where the Director, NIPER Mohali, Prof. Dulal Panda, presented the institute’s vision, key performance indicators (KPIs), and strategic roadmap in the presence of senior officials and faculty members. The presentation highlighted key initiatives, including Centres of Excellence such as COE-AVAB and COE-Biopharmaceuticals, along with the institute’s innovation ecosystem and licensing opportunities.
Prof. Panda emphasized that NIPER Mohali is driven by excellence in research, has nurtured a distinguished pool of alumni, and continues to contribute significantly to national development. He further highlighted the institute’s commitment to strengthening the Government of India’s Biopharma SHAKTI mission through advancements in Cell and Gene Therapies, biologics, biosimilars, medical devices, AI-driven pharmacoinformatics, and advanced drug delivery systems. To support this vision, NIPER Mohali has introduced two new Master’s programmes in Biopharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs.
Manoj Joshi interacted with faculty and students, inviting suggestions on enhancing industry collaboration, technology transfer, and translational research outcomes. He emphasized the need for reforms in the reward system to drive performance, suggesting incentives for faculty securing external funding and increasing industry-sponsored research. He also stressed the importance of transitioning from “paper patents” to real-world translation and commercialization to enhance national impact.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda reiterated the Government’s vision of positioning India as a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, particularly in APIs, key starting materials, synthesis intermediates, and biologics. He assured full support for strengthening research infrastructure at NIPER Mohali and commended the institute for producing industry-ready professionals contributing to the nation’s growth. He concluded by assuring continued funding support and policy reforms to accelerate execution and innovation.
The visit was followed by a Technology Showcase in the Convention Centre foyer, where the Minister reviewed posters and prototypes demonstrating translational research outcomes. The showcase featured industry collaborations, patents, and clinical trial initiatives undertaken by NIPER. Minister also inaugurated the NIPER Medicinal Succulents Garden and concluded his visit with a tour of the institute’s state-of-the-art research facilities, interacting with students and researchers.
This visit underscores the Government of India’s continued commitment to strengthening pharmaceutical education, fostering innovation, and advancing research and development in the biopharmaceutical sector.
