Roche Pharma India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Raebareli. The agreement intends to foster academic–industry collaboration, and strengthen pharmaceutical education and research, within India.

A Stronger India in Pharma

Officials announcing the partnership said they see India strengthening as a global hub for biopharmaceutical innovation.

“Partnerships like these … enable stronger industry-academia linkage for innovation,” said Roche Pharma India Managing Director and CEO Rajwinder Mehdwan.

Mehdwan added this may lead to “sustained global competitive advantage” for India’s biopharma sector.

Roche and NIPER Raebareli say they want to “bridge the gap” between academic learning and real-world practices in the industry. To accomplish this, they seek to equip both students and faculty with knowledge of evolving pharmaceutical and regulatory settings.

Several options can be chosen by participants:

• a certificate program in regulatory affairs, for both students and industry professionals
• guest lecture series by industry experts on topics such as AI in pharmaceutical research, drug development, or healthcare innovation
• scholarship-cum-industry exposure opportunities for NIPER Raebareli students
• faculty immersion programs.

Initiatives like these, the involved parties say, will not only help build a skilled workforce but also encourage further research. Altogether, research into advancements in pharmaceutical technologies will promote a stronger, more resilient healthcare system.

Roche Partnering with 2nd NIPER

Roche Pharma already signed another Memorandum of Understanding, in February 2026, with NIPER Mohali. Among the areas this agreement covers: curriculum design and development, student mentorship, and delivery of industry-ready short-term courses.

Ultimately, the two NIPERs and Roche envision the creation of a “collaborative industry-academia ecosystem” to help drive innovation.

“This … represents an important step in strengthening academic excellence and industry relevance,” said NIPER Raebareli Director Shubhini A. Saraf.