Sep 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 6 mos · Berlin & Bangalore

• Work with the founder of Bigtec (a pioneer in diagnostics), Chandrasekhar Nair, in building and implementing the strategy group for long term value creation of the company including partnership with academia, industry, startups and innovators- in India and across the world.
• Designed and implemented the #EDGE program- India's first corporate medtech Acceleration & partnership program. Built the strategy team and external stakeholders facing arm, designed a framework for information & data capture, drove internal strategy discussion, led technology transfer and licensing from academic startups to the company, contributed to the organisation structure, hired top leadership including Head HR & helped build the HR team, built communication arm including refining the website, social media presence.
• Bigtec is a pioneer in bringing cutting edge diagnostic technology to multitudes of healthcare settings improving health outcomes through access and affordability.

Jun 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 9 mos · Berlin, Germany

• Build credibility & strategies for growth. Help build the Biomedical Research & Innovation Arm from scratch. Strategised & helped design & implement the #Biome Network (a flagship program for BFI) & catalysed 25 partnerships with top institutions and incubators including IISc, IIT Bombay, BITS Pilani, IIT- Kanpur, CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology), TCG-CREST, Venture Center, C-CCAMP amongst others- all in 12months. Build, design & implement the flagship i3Vimarsh platform
• Advise the Founder, CEO, & senior leadership of BFI in strategic, effective, productive & impactful utilisation of USD $200Million fund for establishment of a globally excellent Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute and support them in organisational and program design and delivery including connects to ecosystem stakeholders in India and around the world.

Mar 2022 – Jun 2023 · 1 yr 3 mos · Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad

• BITS BioCyTiH Foundation is a non-profit organisation hosted by BITS Pilani across its three amazing campuses- Pilani, Goa & Hyderabad.
• www.biocytih.co.in
• This is a 15 months DBOT role (design, build, operate & transfer) for me to build something from scratch & set it up for others to grow it & take it forward.
• With initial funding of USD$16M over the next few years, the mandate of the organisation is to fashion a truly interdisciplinary innovation organisation that would foster "translational research, innovation, skill development and training in areas of bio-cyber-physical systems (bioCPS) related to healthcare, agriculture, water and environment. The aim is to build state of the art national facilities across three campuses of BITS Pilani (viz. Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad), extend support to researchers, innovators and startups building products and solutions. Additionally, the Foundation will establish national and international partnerships and create a network of aligned organisations.
• The Foundation is supported by Department of S&T (DST), Government of India under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
• Working with the Board, Project Directors, researchers, innovators, industry and government, many other stakeholders & importantly students and fellows, my aim is to build an enduring innovation organisation from its nascent stages that builds capacities and capabilities in translational research to impact society.

Oct 2021 – Feb 2022 · 4 mos · Berlin, Germany

• Decided to move to India for personal/family reasons.
• Global health policy advocacy for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in partnership with a network of countries in G20, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, WHO, European Commission, OECD, CARB-X, GARDP, FAO, OIE, BIO, AdvaMed, BEAM Alliance, patient groups and many other organisations.

Aug 2021 – Jul 2022 · 11 mos · Berlin, Germany

• Surabhi Foundation for Research and Cultural Exchange (Surabhi Foundation) is a non-profit organization, involved in the documentation, preservation and dissemination of India's Cultural Heritage at the National and International level. Surabhi Foundation is based on the remarkable success of `Surabhi' (Fragrance) India's longest running culture series on National Television, produced and presented by the legendary media personality Shri Siddharth Kak which was telecast for eleven years at prime time. As a result of the amazing success of 'Surabhi', India's largest independent audio-visual archive of Indian art and heritage was created, a resource that lies at the heart of the Foundation.
• Will partner, learn and collaborate with Shri Siddharth Kak and other Trustees of the Foundation to capture, curate and highlight the stories that India and the world needs to hear as part of our shared humanity. Stories of hope, empathy & compassion that have impacted our society positively.
• Shri. Siddharth Kak: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddharth_Kak
• Surabhi:
• https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/media/the-unplanned-glory-of-surabhi/60286032
• https://theprint.in/features/brandma/surabhi-the-dd-show-that-changed-the-idea-of-indian-culture-as-one-entity/347181/
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389688/
• Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surabhi_(TV_series)

Dec 2020 – Present · 5 yrs 3 mos · Berlin & India

• Was invited to join the Board in October 2021

Oct 2020 – Apr 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos · India & Berlin

• Pandorum: <www.pandorum.com> Pandorum Technologies is focused on developing products in the frontier technologies of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and associated multi-disciplinary fields such as biomaterials, cell biology and 3D bioprinting. The growing team has presence in India and the USA.
• Focused on actively (for a year) building the functional verticals- Finance, Operations, HR, R&D, drive productivity & change management from Pandorum 1.0 to Pandorum 2.0. Designed the org-chart & lines of management, formalised a partnership with a clinical hospital Shroff Eye Hospital, led talent hiring & on-boarding of Director Finance, Head Operations, Platform Science, Head HR & 15 R&D scientists in India & the USA.

Nov 2019 – Oct 2020 · 11 mos · Berlin, Germany

• Working with the Head of Longitude Prize, I contributed to providing a strategy report regarding the status of the global startup & innovator teams who are applicants for the £8M prize- these teams are developing a point of care diagnostics for #AMR (antimicrobial resistance). My report informed Longitude Prize's decision to extend the deadline of the prize to September 2022 from December 2019.
• The report evolved from a deep dive I did with the startups and innovators to understand their challenges during in-vitro diagnostics product development including technology challenges, and issues related to engineering, manufacturing, product development vendors, clinical validation, standards and regulation. In addition, I helped Longitude Prize design and deliver two global workshops (as part of their Sprint program) in important areas of medtech regulation and funding. These workshops provided platforms for innovators in #AMR to actively engage with global experts from different geographies.

Apr 2018 – Present · 7 yrs 11 mos · Pune Area, India

• Venture Center is India's top technology & business incubator that nurtures more than 80 resident startups and another several dozen of startups as virtual associates <http://www.venturecenter.co.in>.
• National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) is the largest R&D centre of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- a network of 38 top class institutions aiming to take deep science and technologies for societal benefit. <www.ncl-india.org/>. & <http://www.csir.res.in/>
• Venture Center has grown over the years and now has the tools and resources to mentor and provide deep technical as well as business guidance to startups that are in its universe. Besides support from CSIR, Venture Center is supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, BIRAC, Department of Science & Technology (DST), NSTDEB and many other organisations.
• Venture Center runs a whole host of programs (from funding, access to high end instrumentation-both wet labs & medtech to business mentoring and networking) for startups such that they are able to navigate the complexities of business environment especially product design, development & manufacturing and service delivery and understand regulation and market introduction- helping them find clarity in their business and technology strategies. The team is amazing, responsive and nimble- always patiently listening to the needs of startups and finding optimal solutions to the needs of startups.
• The Board is Chaired by the Director of National Chemical Laboratory along with members from the S&T world and civil society.<http://www.venturecenter.co.in/bod.php>

Jan 2018 – Oct 2019 · 1 yr 9 mos · New Delhi Area, India

• PATH <www.path.org> is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms-vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations-that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.
• Tata Trusts PATH’s Impact Lab is a new initiative (launched in Jan 2018) between PATH & Tata Trusts with the objective of strengthening of the ecosystem for medical technologies including devices & diagnostics and with the aim of accelerating development, adoption and scaling of innovative products to positively impact public health outcomes.
• The Impact Lab- a global initiative by PATH- aims to build & fashion a medtech innovation ecosystem for public health leveraging PATH's global reach and through collaborations.

Oct 2015 – Sep 2017 · 1 yr 11 mos · New Delhi Area, India

• Besides the role as Head Strategy, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship Development, I was also the Ço-ordinator of the 'Biotechnology Industry Facilitation Cell' for the 'Make in India' national programme at BIRAC which the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India has established. The role involves formulating biotech industry strategy for DBT within the 'Make in India' umbrella and driving implementation of the strategy through partnerships including inter-ministerial co-ordination.

Jan 2013 – Oct 2017 · 4 yrs 9 mos · New Delhi Area, India

• BIRAC is the nodal Indian national agency to transform the biotech landscape <www.birac.nic.in>.
• As founding Head Strategy, Partnerships, Entrepreneurship Development- SPED and the IP team, my role encompassed overall strategy formulation, partnerships (national & international), BD & communication & laying the foundation of a ‘bioenterprise’ in India through early stage funding of startups, supporting bioincubators, catalysing academic spin-offs & helping startups transition to the next level. I oversaw a US$10M budget.
• In 2012, I helped catalyse the creation & implementation of national early stage biotech startup funding program- Biotech Ignition Grant (BIG-which I gave shape & steered) that has created a biotech startup culture.
• In 2013, I designed & implemented a national social innovation program- SPARSH- focusing on developing solutions for social challenges
• In Feb 2014, Dec 2015 & June 2017, I drove BIRAC overall Strategy formulation with internal & external consultation.
• I've facilitated establishment of partnerships with Nesta UK on AMR, the Cambridge Judge Business School, Indian Angel Network (IAN), CEFIPRA, Tekes Finland, UKTI UK, WISH Foundation, SRISTI India, TISS India & TiE Delhi.
• In 2015, I contributed to conceptualisation of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) which is managed by Niti Aayog (the nodal policy org. of India).
• I designed BIRAC-SEED Fund & established 3 BIRAC Regional Centres (BRIC at IKP Hyderabad, BREC at C-CAMP Bangalore & BRBC in Venture Center Pune).
• In 2017, I designed BIRAC’s equity based funding program- AcE Fund as well as SoCH.
• I launched quarterly newsletter (BIRAC i3). I authored the 1st impact assessment of BIG (1st BIG Report), created BIG Conclave, designed & scripted BIRAC documentaries & contributed to fashioning of all high level networking platforms- Innovator Meet, Strategy Meet, Foundation Day, Roadshows. I authored DBT’s 30th year commemorative book- capturing the history of nodal biotech department India.

Dec 2014 – Jan 2017 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Delhi & Bangalore

• Karnataka is the leading tech (IT, biotech, engineering manufacturing) hub in India especially clustered around Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Hubli-Dharwad, Tumkur and Mysore.
• Way back in 2000, Karnataka was the first state in India that came out with a stated policy (the Millennium Biotech Policy) on nurturing and growing the biotech industry & this was followed by another biotech policy vision in 2007.
• Currently, 70% of all biotech including medtech are nucleated around Bangalore, Mysore & Hubli-Dharwad.
• For a brief period, working (in an individual capacity & pro-bono) with senior leadership [Secretary to the Government of Karnataka IT, BT & S&T, MD of KBITS (Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services) & Head - Biotechnology Facilitation Cell of KBITS and the Vision Group of Biotechnology-Karnataka], I will contribute & advise in drafting & building the blueprint of Karnataka's Biotechnology Policy 3.0.
• KBITS <http://www.bangaloreitbt.in/>

Jun 2012 – Nov 2012 · 5 mos · & IISc Bengaluru

• Senior Strategy Consultant to Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for a short project to map the feasibility of establishing a healthcare translational centre focused on medical devices & diagnostics.
• Working directly with Director of IIM-B & Chairperson NSRCEL (IIM-B's entrepreneurship centre), I roadmapped a strategic and operational plan for establishment of the aforementioned translation centre.

Jun 2010 – May 2012 · 1 yr 11 mos · Bangalore, India

• ABLE is the apex Indian biotechnology industry association. Operational since 2003, it has grown to have more than 250 members from all across the country and from all verticals of the biotechnology industry be it biopharma, agri-biotech, bioservices, bioindustrial, diagnostics & devices, bioinformatics, suppliers, patent firms and leading research institutions. It is indeed the "collective face of the Indian biotechnology sector".
• As the operational head of the nodal biotechnology industry association, my responsibilities included overall management of the organization's Secretariat as well as constant engagement with the Indian biotechnology industry, Indian Government and other stakeholders of the biotechnology sector.
• Leading and driving advocacy efforts for the biotech sector in India and positively influencing biotechnology policy in India.
• Representing ABLE at national and international platforms including high level strategic meetings with Government of India (DBT) and Planning Commission as well as international forums such as One Nucleus (UK)'s Genesis.
• Submitting in-depth biotech policy recommendations to the Government of India including budget recommendations.
• Creating high level platforms for industry-government engagement for policy deliberations
• Establishing International linkages and facilitating trade R&D connections amongst international and Indian biotechnology firms.
• Fostering biotech entrepreneurship development through national programmes.
• Championing Indian bioscience through public speaking and articles in print media
• Mentoring post-graduate students
• Delivering multiple biotechnology related projects including consulting projects from International organizations and Government of India as well as shaping and conducting flagship national and international conferences (BioInvest, Bangalore INDIA Bio, Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Student Teams-BEST, Genepool, Regional meetings, workshops and many other events.

Oct 2009 – May 2010 · 7 mos

Oct 2008 – Oct 2009 · 1 yr

Jul 2008 – Sep 2008 · 2 mos

Jan 2008 – May 2010 · 2 yrs 4 mos · University of Cambridge (Institute for Manufacturing)

• Besides my position at University of Cambridge, I also worked with Mr. David Gill, Managing Director St. John Innovation Centre (SJIC), University of Cambridge's first incubator, where I drove a mapping and analysis project to understand the emerging innovation ecosystem in India. The project involved primary and secondary data collection including conducting 45 high level interviews with experts from a wide spectrum of technology intensive industries- such as IT, manufacturing and biotech. This project was supported by Gatsby Charitable Foundation, UK.

Feb 2006 – Aug 2006 · 6 mos

• www.kcl.ac.uk

Oct 2001 – Sep 2005 · 3 yrs 11 mos

• Molecular Cell Biology

Sep 2000 – Jun 2001 · 9 mos

• Amongst others, in the laboratory of Prof. Jay Cross,
• Department of Biochemisty & Molecular Biology
• Faculty of Medicine
• http://medicine.ucalgary.ca/

Dec 1998 – Sep 1999 · 9 mos · MRC Toxicology Centre

• http://www.mrctox.le.ac.uk/

Apr 1997 – Sep 1998 · 1 yr 5 mos

• Environmental Impact Assessment & Biodiversity Assessment