Learnings from India Biodesign: Hiroshima University Biodesign (HUB) for Frugal Innovation

Abstract

Hiroshima University Biodesign (HUB) is a flagship Program of Medical-Technology Collaboration Project initiated by Hiroshima Prefectural Government in 2017. Under the supervision of School of International Biodesign (SIB), this biomedical technology innovation program is being implemented in collaboration with international partners, managed by Division of Biodesign in Hiroshima University.Our program aims to foster med-tech innovation in collaboration with multiple organizations: All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Indian Institute of Technology; and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.From India, we learned "frugal innovation", and applied it into medical device development with industrial partners. Since its inception in 2019 by HUB, our program has been supported by Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development. We also have been successful in encouraging medical device innovation, promoting entrepreneurship in medical device sector by formation of startups, indigenous manufacturing of medical devices and dissemination of innovations at global level. The HUB Fellowship is an interdisciplinary, team-based, experiential hands-on training program spanning over one year wherein physicians, engineers, designers and researchers come together to identify needs of the healthcare system and develop affordable medical technology solutions with frugal approach.