Health Tech Ideation & Innovation Grant (HII Program)
Instituted by Mr. Ajay Dubey (BT/CHE/1980) and his wife, Mrs. Rooma Dubey, the HII Program aims to seed and nurture innovations in health technology while building an ecosystem that supports student startups in the HealthTech domain. The program exposes students to real-world problem statements, encouraging them to develop innovative technological solutions for the betterment of the healthcare system.
Under the umbrella of SIIC, IIT Kanpur, students receive funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to accelerate their growth and foster a culture of entrepreneurship. For more information, please visit E-Cell, IIT Kanpur.
Mr. Ajay Dubey holds a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and has over 40 years of experience in the IT industry. He has served as Vice President at Infosys and headed the Infosys Pune Development Center, where he was responsible for establishing the Pune operations. He has also served as the Chief Operating Officer at Persistent Systems Pvt. Ltd. and is an angel investor in Clodura.ai. He is an avid reader and a keen follower of modern technology trends.
The Healthcare Innovation & Ideation (HII) Program made notable progress in fostering health-tech innovation among IIT Kanpur students during the 2024-2025 period. Fellows for Cohort 2 were selected by the Expert Selection Committee and were subsequently onboarded into the program.
A pre-immersion program was conducted by Dr. Avijit Bansal (AIIMS Delhi, Stanford India Biodesign) in collaboration with the SIIC team, designed to prepare the fellows ahead of their clinical immersion. In June 2024, the Cohort 2 fellows-comprising two teams-underwent clinical immersion at SCTIMST, Trivandrum, where they engaged directly with real-world healthcare environments to identify pressing clinical challenges.
The following are the two selected teams:
Team 1: Harsh Arora and Sheersha Karmakar - Developing an affordable Sedation & brain oxygenation monitoring device under the mentorship of Prof. Arjun Ramakrishnan.
Team 2: Akshat Chouksey, Lakshit Sharma, and C. Zoliansangi - Developing an assistive bowel management device under the mentorship of Prof. Amitabha Bandyopadhyay.
Following this phase, the HII Sync event provided a platform for expert clinical and engineering mentorship. This support was instrumental in refining and finalizing the problem statements that the teams would address. The fellows then progressed to the mentorship and prototyping stages, with financial support allocated for prototype development.
To further promote entrepreneurial skills, the program hosted expert sessions, including workshops on “Design Thinking” and “Mastering Finance and Legal Compliance for the sustainable growth of startups”.
Programmes and Events
The following are the finalized Problem Statements:
Team 1: Harsh Arora and Sheersha Karmakar
Project Title: Design of a device for monitoring sedation level and cerebral oxygenation in critical care settings.
This addresses the critical gap in continuous and objective monitoring of neurological function during sedation in ICUs and operation theatres.
Team 2: Akshat Chouksey, Lakshit Sharma, and C. Zoliansangi
Project Title: Development of an assistive device for individuals with conditions such as Imperforate Anus, Hirschsprung’s Disease, Paralysis, and Spinal Injuries.
The aim is to support bowel management and improve quality of life through user-friendly, low-burden interventions.
Prototyping (ongoing)
Following the finalization of problem statements, fellows have commenced prototyping their proposed solutions. Utilizing research and analytical facilities at IIT Kanpur, they are translating clinical insights into tangible innovations, supported by dedicated prototype development funding.
Future direction
Following the successful implementation of Cohorts 1 and 2, the HII Program is ready to onboard the third cohort.
Conclusion
The second cohort of the HII Program has consistently made significant progress. From the initial pre-immersion phase through clinical immersion, the identification of critical healthcare challenges, and the development of innovative prototypes, the fellows have exhibited dedication, ingenuity, and a strong grasp of real-world clinical needs.
The efforts undertaken thus far have established a solid foundation for future advancements and impact. Supported by expert mentorship, access to cutting-edge facilities, and dedicated resources, the fellows are well-equipped to translate their ideas into viable healthcare solutions. Their journey embodies the core mission of the HII Program: to bridge the gap between clinical challenges and technological innovation.