AMTZ Scales Up Additive Manufacturing CoE to Strengthen India’s MedTech Manufacturing Base

The facility has collaborated with more than 20 startups and over 35 industry partners, helping them shorten development cycles and meet global quality standards.

The Advanced Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) has expanded its capabilities across plastics, metals and silicone-based components, further strengthening domestic innovation and reducing import dependence.

AMTZ, established as India’s first integrated medical device manufacturing ecosystem, was created to address the country’s long-standing dependence on imported medical devices and components.

Over the past decade, India’s MedTech market has grown rapidly, driven by rising healthcare demand, digital health adoption, and policy support. However, nearly 70-80 per cent of medical devices have traditionally been imported, exposing vulnerabilities in cost, supply chains and access.

Facilities such as AMTZ have been designed to bridge this gap by offering shared infrastructure, regulatory support and advanced manufacturing capabilities to innovators and manufacturers.

The expanded Centre of Excellence builds on its earlier success in polymer and metal additive manufacturing, CNC precision machining and pilot-scale production.

By integrating multiple advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof, AMTZ is positioning itself as a critical enabler for end-to-end MedTech product development, from design and rapid prototyping to post-processing and low-volume commercial production.

So far, the facility has collaborated with more than 20 startups and over 35 industry partners, helping them shorten development cycles and meet global quality standards.

This shared-access model is particularly significant for early-stage MedTech companies, which often face high capital barriers when investing in advanced manufacturing equipment and compliance infrastructure.

Dr Jitendra Sharma, Founder, CEO and Managing Director, Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone, said, “By combining additive manufacturing with precision machining, injection-moulded plastics, silicone component manufacturing, and advanced post-processing capabilities, the Centre of Excellence at AMTZ has created a strong platform for indigenous, scalable, and globally competitive medical device component production. This integrated model reduces import dependence, shortens manufacturing cycles, and accelerates innovation and commercialisation for the MedTech sector.”

The Centre’s work aligns closely with national programmes such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, which emphasise domestic manufacturing and global competitiveness. One notable outcome has been the development of a manufacturing process for ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a critical material used in orthopedic implants and joint replacements.

This initiative enabled Nanoshel to challenge a global supply duopoly and offer a domestic alternative, helping cut India’s import dependence, previously estimated at nearly Rs 2,000 crore.

Beyond infrastructure, AMTZ is also focusing on building a skilled workforce trained in advanced MedTech manufacturing technologies. With plans to expand collaborations further, the Centre of Excellence is expected to play a defining role in strengthening India’s position in the global MedTech value chain, supporting digital health innovation, and ensuring affordable, high-quality medical devices for both domestic and international markets.

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