India, with a population of over 1.2 billion people, has several pressing needs in healthcare, including access to quality health delivery systems, affordable drugs, devices and medical technology for treating and preventing diseases, promoting health and sustaining quality of life. India has several world-class hospitals and some successful R&D in drug development, but, research, development and manufacturing activities with regard to quality medical devices and technologies are limited. The country is mainly dependent on imported medical devices and technologies some of which are either not affordable or not aligned to the needs of the majority of the Indian population.

There is thus a huge clinical and commercial need for the research and development of cutting edge and affordable medical technologies. It is difficult for any one entity or organization to undertake all aspects of the technology development and commercialization. It has been shown in many parts of the world, especially in USA, that a consortium or cluster of institutions that can provide technological, research, clinical, business and other expertise can create such an environment in an efficient and cost-effective way to boost technological and economic advancements.