SRM University-AP, in collaboration with the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) India, hosted the Healthcare Industry-Academia Dialogue Forum on Saturday to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and lay the foundation for its new B.Tech. in Health Engineering programme, scheduled to commence in August 2026.

The event brought together 13 senior leaders from India’s healthcare technology, medical devices, digital health, and research sectors to interact with faculty members, discuss research partnerships and contribute to the development of an industry-oriented curriculum.

The B.Tech. in Health Engineering is among the few programmes of its kind in India and has been designed to integrate electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and medical sciences to prepare students for careers in healthcare innovation and medical technology.

The forum was led by founder head of the Department of Health Engineering and coordinator of the Biomedical Research and Artificial Intelligence Network (BRAIN) Lab, K.A. Sunitha. Representatives from leading organisations, including Philips, Baxter International, Stryker, Medtronic, Evai Technologies, InnAccel, HRS Navigation, ROPODS, AMTZ and RICH participated in the discussions.

Vice-Chancellor Ch. Satish Kumar outlined the university’s vision behind establishing the Department of Health Engineering and highlighted its expanding research ecosystem, including the internationally recognised Quantum Research Centre and collaborations with national and international institutions.

Deliberations focused on AI-driven healthcare solutions, teaching methodologies, student internships, industry-sponsored projects, research collaborations and emerging areas such as mental health. Dean of the School of Engineering and Sciences, C.V. Tomy, and Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Srinivasan Thirumalai, also participated.

Industry leaders who participated in the event, assured full support in developing a robust, industry-aligned curriculum and pledging continued collaboration to ensure graduates are equipped with practical skills to address real-world healthcare challenges.