KOLKATA, INDIA: Texas Instruments Inc. has signed a collaborative agreement with the School of Medical Science and Technology (SMST), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, to develop semiconductor technologies that will help improve the quality, comfort and accessibility of health care.

This is the first time that TI has partnered with any IIT in India on research projects devoted to medical electronics innovation. The announcement was made by Dr. Biswadip (Bobby) Mitra, managing director, Texas Instruments India, and Professor Ajoy Kumar Ray, head – SMST, IIT Kharagpur.

TI works with medical device customers across the globe to make quality health care more accessible to more people. In September 2007, the company announced that it would invest a total of $15 million to fund medical technology research at selected universities worldwide with a focus on quality, accessibility and affordability. TI's goal in supporting this research is to help develop new semiconductor technologies for personal medical devices, implantables, medical imaging, wireless healthcare systems and bio-sensor technology. The TI-IIT Kharagpur research collaboration is a part of this effort.

The collaboration also reflects TI's commitment to engineering education and developing the next generation of innovators. The research projects TI is funding at IIT Kharagpur will be undertaken by students holding B. Tech, M. Tech, M. Stats or M. Sc (Physics or Mathematics) degrees with specializations in image processing, neural networks and pattern recognition, digital signal processor-based embedded system design, and MEMS-based bio-sensors. These students, to be selected by IIT Kharagpur, will register for a MS/PhD program under the TI-SMST Research Scheme.

"Together, TI and IIT Kharagpur have the opportunity to help improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world," said Dr. Mitra.  "In India alone, about 800,000 patients undergo coronary bypass surgery every year; one in every 12 women develops breast cancer. Also, oral leukoplakia and oral sub-mucous fibrosis have been widely prevalent in India and a cause for concern to scientists in the country. The TI-IIT Kharagpur technology partnership will enable devices that could help address some of these pressing healthcare issues."

"The Advanced Technology Center in IIT Kharagpur is equipped with basic facilities and infrastructure for undertaking research projects in silicon-based microelectronics," said Prof. Ray. "We are excited about this association with TI, a company globally acknowledged for its strides in semiconductor research and development, and we are confident that this partnership is an important step toward developing solutions to help people with cancer and heart ailments in this country."