SBI Foundation and Bengaluru-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) are together kicking off the first India AMR Challenge for 2024 under their recently launched program for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Innovation to identify mid to late-stage startups, companies or innovators developing technologies to tackle AMR.

The joint programme was launched on 12^th Oct 2023 in the presence of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Govt of India in New Delhi, under the aegis of the India AMR Innovation Hub (IAIH), which is anchored by C-CAMP and chaired by PSA.

The SBI Foundation-C-CAMP AMR Challenge is the first programme under the joint initiative, and is also an initiative under the Innovators for Bharat programme of SBI Foundation. The inaugural edition of the AMR Challenge will be open to solutions for challenges spanning domains of I) AMR in Human Health (II) AMR in One Health, and III) Late-stage Innovations in AMR.  

The winners of the SBI Foundation C-CAMP AMR Challenge 2024 stand to gain up to Rs 50 lakh investment funding, mentorship from Indian and global experts, networking opportunities with key stakeholders from India and beyond, opportunity for validation studies, commercialisation and deployment and technology showcase opportunity. Solutions sought must be Technology Readiness Level (TRL) >3, i.e Technology Demonstration stage and above.

The SBI Foundation and C-CAMP AMR Challenge in Human Health are-

Rapid Detection of Neonatal Sepsis & Urinary Tract Infection

Under AMR in One Health, the Challenges are related to animal husbandry encompassing dairy, aquaculture and poultry.

The third focus area within the current AMR Challenge is on platform technologies with demonstrable applicability in AMR, substantiated with lab-based or pilot data. The innovations in this category need to be Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above, with demonstrable evidence of their application in any domain of AMR, prevention, control, diagnosis, detection, surveillance, or data science. While the domain is broad, the aim is to identify technologies that can reach pilot or field trial stage within 18 months or less. 

The call opened on 27^th Dec, 2023 and will accept applications until January 21^st, 2024. Complete the Application Form (here)