Innovation in healthcare and research has always been at the forefront of the city-based PU's efforts in charting new frontiers. As a part of the university’s dedication to fostering innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in various domains including healthcare, it recently held the Vadodara Healthcare Innovation Festival 2023 which brought together visionaries, professionals, and innovators from the healthcare industry to showcase and celebrate groundbreaking advancements in healthcare and medical technology. The two-day festival hosted an eminent panel of dignitaries who have made tremendous contributions to the field of healthcare and medicine. 

The main aim of the Vadodara Healthcare Innovation Festival 2023 was to showcase the power and capability of innovation through extensive hands-on workshops, interactions with eminent personalities from the world of healthcare, Idea-Pitching, and thought-provoking discussions. The dynamic and innovative festival spanned over 2 days and saw the participation of over 8000 medical professionals, student innovators, and startup founders. The event consisted of several components, including the Innovation Expo, where innovative startups in the healthcare field were showcased, Med Talks, which brought healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship experts to discuss cutting-edge technologies and novel approaches in patient care, a panel discussion on critical topics in healthcare, a Start-up Boot Camp that connected participants with potential co-founders and investors, Idea Pitching, where start-up founders had an opportunity to secure funding of 2.5 lakhs, and Investor Connect, where innovative start-ups had the opportunity to secure funding up to 3 crores.

The event was a roaring success as 13 innovative healthcare startups exhibited their startup at the Innovation expo, 17 startup ideas got selected for funding and incubation support from Parul Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Center (PIERC), 48 brilliant early-stage healthcare startups were selected for idea pitching, 10 startups from the Growthpad program had an opportunity to pitch in front of investors, and 3 startups are moving further in the world of entrepreneurship with investment opportunities on the horizons. The Vadodara Healthcare Innovation Festival 2023 hosted various eminent personalities from the healthcare world such as founders and CEOs of notable healthcare companies and organizations. 

Dr. Navnath Gavhane, IAS, who also serves as the Managing Director of Gujarat Medical Services Corporation Limited, Government of Gujarat, was the honorary Chief Guest of the Vadodara Healthcare Innovation Festival 2023. During the interaction with students and medical professionals in the audience, he said, “Young minds in their 20s, I urge you to step out of your comfort zones and immerse yourselves in the real world. It is there, amidst the challenges and opportunities of industries and fields, that the spark of innovation ignites.” 

The 2-day event was a testament to the university's efforts to advance healthcare innovation and research. It served as a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and igniting innovation among healthcare professionals, aspiring medical professionals, and entrepreneurs. Participants had the opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies, experience innovative healthcare and digital solutions, and interact with medical professionals on various occasions during the fest. It was an amazing event that truly showcased the university's commitment to healthcare advancement.