Chennai, Oct 26 (KNN) During the first two years, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the proposed medical devices park at Oragadam near Chennai will be permitted to use the state-of-the-art limited manufacturing facility at Anna University.

An integrated manufacturing hub for medical device and technological companies is being developed by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) on 350 acres at Oragadam. It is partnering with Anna University for technical support and expertise. 

This initiative will help MSMEs to scale up from prototypes to clinical validation and make initial batches. 

The National Hub for Healthcare Instrumentation Development (NHHID) at Anna University has a limited industrial manufacturing facility with the latest equipment such as a six-axis robot for assembly, programmable CNG machine, 3D printer, 3D laser scanner, electronic board fabrication machines, testing and calibration equipment.

"Anna University will provide its expertise in establishing a centralized infrastructure for limited manufacturing, testing, calibration of devices and training the personnel at the hub. A common infrastructure will cut the costs during the initial period. Till the facility is materialized, the MSMEs will be allowed to use the facilities at Anna University," said professor M Sasikala, coordinator of NHHID. 

It will also benefit the engineering students as they can do internships on their own campus and the university can earn revenue through consulting and testing, she added.

"The testing and calibration facilities at the university will reveal whether the product would pass the final testing. We will also provide help in clinical validation through our network of hospitals, doctors," said K Sankaran, professor of eminence from NHHID. 

The medical devices park will boost manufacturing of indigenous bio-medical devices and bring down the cost of healthcare, he added.  (KNN Bureau)