The Indian healthcare sector is witnessing a strategic transformation with the launch of the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH). This initiative promises to fast-track AI adoption across cancer care facilities nationwide.
India AI, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has partnered with the National Cancer Grid to launch this competitive grant program. The collaboration targets a critical gap in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Why It Matters Now
India faces mounting cancer challenges with late diagnoses and fragmented infrastructure. According to India AI, artificial intelligence has shown immense potential in advancing precision oncology globally. However, adoption in clinical practice remains low due to a lack of validation and real-world testing.
The CATCH program bridges this gap by pairing AI innovators with NCG’s vast clinical network. This enables real-world validation and deployment in Indian hospitals across the country.
Selected teams will receive milestone-based pilot funding up to 250 lakhs. The funding comes jointly from India AI and NCG, ensuring sustained support for innovative projects.
Strategic Advantage
The program covers seven distinct innovation tracks for healthcare technology development. Screening solutions focus on AI tools for early cancer detection, including voice and image-based self-screening options.
Diagnostics track emphasizes AI for pathology and radiology support, as well as multi-modal diagnosis capabilities. Clinical treatment solutions include decision support tools and personalized treatment planning systems.
Patient engagement track covers chatbots, mobile tools, and remote monitoring solutions. Research enablement focuses on AI for trial matching and protocol design applications.
Operational efficiency solutions target intelligent scheduling, triage, and administrative optimization tools. The data curation track addresses structured, interoperable data management for AI readiness.
According to the official announcement, up to 10Proposals will be selected based on their eligibility and other criteria—evaluation benchmarks. Joint teams must consist of a Clinical Lead and a Technology Lead.
Market Impact in India
“The National Cancer Grid is a network that currently connects more than 250 cancer canters across India. “This extensive reach provides selected AI solutions with immediate access to validation sites.
Successful pilot projects become eligible for India AI Scale-Up Grants worth up to 1 crore. This pathway enables pan-India deployment for proven solutions.
As reported in industry publications, selected awardees will receive national visibility through India AI and NCG digital platforms. This exposure supports regulatory readiness and institutional buy-in for scaling operations.
Eligible applicants include startups, health tech firms, academic institutions, hospitals, and non-profits. The program strongly encourages joint submissions between clinical experts and technology developers.
What Business Leaders Should Know
The application timeline is aggressive, with key dates already announced. The CATCH Grant launched on 2 August 2025, with an information webinar scheduled for 21 August.
The application deadline is set for 2 September 2025, through the official India AI-NCG online portal. Pre-submission queries must be emailed to specific addresses with proper subject line formatting.
Proposals must be at Technology Readiness Level 5 or above. Teams need a clear implementation roadmap demonstrating practical deployment capabilities.
The program prioritizes ethical AI development aligned with Indian healthcare requirements. All solutions must undergo clinical validation before deployment across the network.
According to program guidelines, funding operates on milestone-based disbursement ensuring accountability and measurable progress. This structure protects both investors and innovators throughout the development cycle.
Healthcare technology companies should view this as a strategic entry point into India’s organized cancer care network. The partnership provides access to clinical validation sites and regulatory support that is typically difficult to secure independently.
The initiative represents India Ai’s broader mission to democratize AI access and drive innovation in key sectors. This aligns with India’s national strategy for technology self-reliance and ethical AI adoption.