The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Patna, will develop its existing incubation centre for medical technology on campus to help students devise and execute their own business ideas.

The centre will work to develop low-cost versions of X-ray machines, computed tomography machines, heart-lung machines, MRI machines and other expensive medical instruments. The centre functions on a 1,000-square-foot area at present and will be expanded across the 3,000-square-foot area that the institute allotted to it.

IIT-Patna has asked its students to submit their proposals for the centre."The institute informed us about the centre and asked us to submit our ideas in connection with electronics and medical equipments," said Chirag a third-year student at IIT-Patna.

After going through the proposals, an expert committee comprising faculty members from IIT-Patna and officials from big corporate houses will recommend the best ones to be implemented at the centre.

"As the centre aims for development of ideas related to medical and electronic incubation, students from outside IIT-Patna will also be accepted based on their proposals," said K.C. Ray, IIT-Patna faculty member and coordinator of the centre.

The institute will appoint a managerand assistant managers for the centre. The officials will need to have a master's degree in science, technology or business with work experience. They will set up the centre, screen the proposals in their preliminary stage and forward them to the expert committee.

"The manager and assistant managers will also monitor network and funding opportunities for start-ups, organise training programs and promote the centre," said IIT-Patna registrar Subhash Pandey.

The centre will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 47.10 crore over a period of five years. The Centre will give Rs 22.10 crore and the state government will fund the rest.