Catalyzing Change: Kerala’s Strategic Roundtable on Medical Rubber
The Kerala Medical Technology Consortium (KMTC), in association with the Rubber Board and Kerala Rubber Limited (KRL), convened a Strategic Roundtable on Medical Rubber at the Rubber Board headquarters — marking a key milestone in advancing Kerala’s MedTech Strategy, which envisions the state as a global MedTech hub by 2032.
Kerala’s MedTech vision rests on three strategic pillars: Medical Rubber, Medical Electronics, and Assistive Technology — leveraging the state’s strengths in material science, precision manufacturing, and innovation-driven healthcare solutions.
The roundtable brought together an exceptional lineup of leaders from government, industry, academia, and research, including:
Mr. M. Vasanthagesan, IRS, Executive Director, Rubber Board
Ms. Sheela Thomas, Chairperson & MD, Kerala Rubber Limited (KRL)
Mr. C. Balagopal, Chairman, Kerala Industrial Development Corporation
Dr. Shera, Director, Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII)
…and representatives from Harrisons Malayalam Ltd., UPASI, MG University, CUSAT, HLL Lifecare Ltd., and other industry experts and scientists.
The discussions focused on harnessing Kerala’s leadership in natural rubber to foster a new generation of medical-grade products, innovation-led enterprises, and global MedTech integration — aligning traditional strengths with international value chains.
Key outcomes and calls to action included:
Establishing a collaborative platform to connect science, policy, and industry for accelerated innovation
Strengthening testing, certification, and R&D infrastructure to meet global standards
Aligning government support and industry priorities for forward integration and investment
Developing specialized skills and training programs for a future-ready MedTech workforce
Empowering MSMEs and startups to drive innovation, exports, and inclusive growth
The way forward:
These outcomes will be taken forward through a dedicated Medical Rubber session at Bioconnect 2025 on October 10, 2025, focusing on translating dialogue into actionable projects, partnerships, and investments, furthering Kerala’s transformation into a global hub for medical rubber manufacturing.
The event reaffirmed KMTC’s commitment to collective innovation and coordinated action, ensuring Kerala continues to lead India’s journey toward a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive MedTech ecosystem