The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd (NNIPL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on July 8, 2025, to drive a strategic partnership for a period of five years, till 2030. The collaboration aims to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in India through a multi-dimensional approach focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially obesity.
As a part of this MoU, NNIPL and IIMA will co-develop and implement impactful programmes under three key pillars: Health System Capacity Building, Policy Advocacy, and Health Economics. The partnership will prioritise creation of educational content, development of model frameworks for obesity clinics, and data-driven policy formulation to address the burden of obesity in India. It will also support in conducting research to assess its economic impact on individuals, workforce productivity, healthcare system, and the overall economy.
Commenting on the partnership, Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd, said, “India’s healthcare systems must urgently evolve to address the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases, particularly obesity. This collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad will jointly shape interventions that are research-backed, scalable, and sustainable. It is our firm belief that partnerships like these—grounded in evidence and executed through collaboration—can bring lasting change and help improve health outcomes for millions.”
Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIM Ahmedabad, expressed his thoughts on the development, stating, “This collaboration with Novo Nordisk India brings together healthcare and public policy—two domains where data and research can enable lasting change. At IIMA, we aim to apply our academic rigour to generate actionable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities tackling non-communicable diseases like obesity.”
The MoU also outlines detailed research initiatives, including paper publications with government institutions, pilot outreach programmes, and evaluation of telemedicine for management of NCDs in underserved regions.
Present at the ceremony, Chhavi Moodgal, CEO, IIMA Endowment Fund, added, “Strategic partnerships like this reflect IIMA’s commitment to addressing complex public health challenges through rigorous research, data-led solutions, and collaborative action. We are pleased to have facilitated this alliance between IIMA and Novo Nordisk—one that brings academic strength and corporate intent together to build capacity and improve healthcare outcomes at scale.”
This strategic collaboration underscores the importance of integrating education, research, and policy to create a future-ready healthcare ecosystem for India. By aligning efforts across sectors, the Novo Nordisk India-IIM Ahmedabad partnership aims to set a new benchmark in public health innovation and leadership.
The IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF), the Institute’s unified fundraising and philanthropic arm for all donations from alumni, as well as corporate and CSR partners, played a facilitative role in shaping this partnership. This collaboration reinforces IIMA’s broader vision to solidify its prominence in thought leadership, research, and academic excellence globally—leveraging its expertise to address critical public health challenges like obesity through evidence-based policy and systemic innovation.
