NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the Government of Canada, and the Grand Challenges India initiative of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, today announced an investment of $2.5 million (CAD) in five health innovations in India. Many of these novel projects aim to improve maternal, newborn and child health (known as ’MNCH’), which is Canada’s flagship development priority, and a tremendous challenge for the Government of India.

The announcement includes a $1.3 million investment in a Transition to Scale project providing ’crèches’ (daycare centers) for children of migrant construction workers in India; and three proof-of-concept grants (totalling $795,000) of which two are co-funded by India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

India and Canada have also agreed to accelerate ongoing efforts towards the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in India by jointly supporting an existing Grand Challenges Canada project in Bihar state.

The new funding package was announced during an official visit to Canada of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It underlines and strengthens the strong ties between Canada and India on global health innovation.

To date, Grand Challenges Canada has supported over 100 innovations in India, for a total investment of more than $22.7 million. Grand Challenges Canada has also partnered with the National Council of Indo-Canadians to ensure engagement of Canada’s vibrant Indian community in the Grand Challenges partnership.

This announcement builds on the Programme of Cooperation that was signed in February 2014 between Grand Challenges Canada and the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology, which was signed during the state visit to India of His Excellency Governor General David Johnston and Mrs. Sharon Johnston.

That agreement promotes the development of long-term cooperation between Canada and India in the fields of global health, early child development, women and children’s health and mental health.