Building Bridges Against AMR: An Indo-French Success Story - Collaborating Across Borders
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most pressing global public health challenges of the 21st century, threatening decades of progress in infectious disease management, patient safety, and healthcare delivery. Recognizing the urgent need for coordinated, multi-stakeholder, and international action, bioMérieux, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in India, Institut Français, and CEFIPRA, conceptualized and implemented a comprehensive Indo-French collaboration focused on AMR. This initiative was designed not only as a single event, but as a sustained, multi-year engagement platform integrating policy dialogue, knowledge creation, and capacity building. The Indo-French AMR collaboration was strategically positioned within the broader context of India’s evolving public health priorities and global commitments, particularly during India’s G20 presidency. By aligning bilateral cooperation with global health diplomacy, the initiative aimed to elevate AMR from a technical healthcare concern to a national and international policy priority, requiring integrated solutions across government, academia, healthcare institutions, and industry.
Purpose and Strategic Rationale
The primary purpose of the Indo-French AMR collaboration was to contribute meaningfully to India’s response to antimicrobial resistance by fostering dialogue, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. AMR is a complex, multi-dimensional challenge that cuts across human health, animal health, environmental factors, and healthcare systems. Addressing it requires not only advanced diagnostics and technologies, but also strong governance frameworks, skilled human resources, and continuous engagement between policymakers and practitioners. bioMérieux, as a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and microbiology, brought to the collaboration its scientific expertise, global perspective, and long-standing commitment to combating infectious diseases. The Embassy of France in India and its affiliated institutions contributed diplomatic leadership, international connectivity, and credibility in advancing bilateral scientific and healthcare cooperation. Together, the partners envisioned a platform that would bridge global best practices with India’s on-ground realities. The initiative sought to achieve multiple interlinked objectives: to raise awareness about AMR among senior policymakers and public health leaders; to create a structured forum for Indo-French and international knowledge exchange; to generate tangible policy-oriented outputs such as a white paper; and to translate high-level discussions into practical capacity-building interventions at leading healthcare institutions.
Scope and Design of the Initiative
The Indo-French AMR collaboration was deliberately designed with a broad and scalable scope. Rather than limiting engagement to a single symposium or city, the initiative was structured around a phased, multi-pillar approach that allowed for expansion across geographies and stakeholder groups over time. This approach ensured continuity, relevance, and sustained impact. The scope of the initiative encompassed three core pillars: high-level policy and stakeholder engagement, knowledge creation and advocacy, and capacity building through training and skill development. Each pillar was designed to reinforce the others, creating a cohesive ecosystem of dialogue, learning, and action. High-Level Policy and Stakeholder Engagement The first major milestone of the collaboration was the Indo-French AMR Symposium held on June 20, 2023, in New Delhi. Organized in the backdrop of India’s G20 presidency, the symposium represented the first bilateral Indo-French forum of its kind dedicated exclusively to antimicrobial resistance in India. The event was conceptualized as a high-level policy dialogue rather than a conventional scientific conference, with a focus on strategic alignment, governance, and system-level responses to AMR. The symposium brought together a diverse and influential group of stakeholders, including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (through NHSRC), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology, and nominees from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under the Department of Science and Technology. The presence of international speakers, senior government officials, infection control experts, and leading Key Opinion Leaders underscored the credibility and importance of the forum. A special message from the Global Ambassador on Health further reinforced the international significance of the initiative. Discussions during the symposium focused on India’s National Action Plan on AMR, global surveillance frameworks, the role of diagnostics in stewardship, and the importance of cross-border collaboration. By convening stakeholders who do not always interact within the same platform, the symposium succeeded in breaking silos and fostering a shared understanding of AMR as a systemic challenge.
Knowledge Creation and Policy Advocacy
Building on the success and rich discussions of the June 2023 symposium, the partners made a strategic decision to institutionalize the insights generated during the event. Rather than allowing the dialogue to remain ephemeral, the collaboration moved towards creating a structured knowledge output that could serve as a reference point for policymakers and institutions. This led to the development of the Indo-French AMR White Paper, which consolidated expert perspectives, key discussion points, and actionable recommendations emerging from the symposium. The white paper was designed to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and policy formulation, presenting complex issues in a manner accessible to decision-makers. The launch of the white paper took place on December 11, 2023, in New Delhi, marking the second major milestone of the collaboration. The event witnessed strong participation from government representatives, public health institutions, and healthcare leaders, highlighting the continued relevance and momentum of the initiative. The white paper served not only as a documentation of discussions but as a policy advocacy tool supporting India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its AMR response. The successful reception of the white paper demonstrated the value of sustained engagement and reinforced the role of bioMérieux as a knowledge partner rather than merely a technology provider. It also underscored the effectiveness of Indo-French cooperation in generating policy-relevant outcomes in the healthcare domain. Geographic Expansion and State-Level Engagement Recognizing the importance of decentralization and state-level ownership in India’s healthcare system, the collaboration consciously expanded beyond New Delhi. The third event in the Indo-French AMR series was organized in Mumbai on May 29, 2024. This marked a significant evolution in the scope of the initiative, as it enabled direct engagement with state government officials and regional healthcare leaders. Mumbai was strategically chosen due to its role as a major healthcare hub and its concentration of leading public hospitals and medical institutions. The event facilitated discussions on state-level implementation challenges, surveillance capacity, and the role of tertiary care hospitals in AMR containment. By extending the dialogue to the state level, the initiative strengthened its relevance and practical impact. This geographic expansion demonstrated the scalability of the Indo-French AMR platform and reinforced its positioning as a long-term engagement rather than a one-off initiative. It also allowed bioMérieux and its partners to deepen relationships with state authorities and healthcare institutions.
Capacity Building and Skill Development
While policy dialogue and advocacy formed the foundation of the collaboration, the partners were equally committed to translating strategic discussions into tangible action on the ground. This commitment materialized in the form of Indo-French training programs launched in May 2024, focusing on enhancing microbiology and diagnostic capabilities in India. The training initiative aimed to build the capacity of young professionals and laboratory technicians by exposing them to advanced automation techniques, modern diagnostic workflows, and best practices in microbiology. The workshops combined theoretical sessions with hands-on training using state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring practical relevance and immediate applicability. To date, three training programs have been successfully conducted at AIIMS Rishikesh, Sir J J Hospital Mumbai, and Medical College Kolkata. These institutions were selected based on their academic standing, patient load, and potential to serve as regional centers of excellence. The trainings contributed directly to strengthening laboratory capabilities, improving diagnostic accuracy, and supporting antimicrobial stewardship efforts at the institutional level. This capacity-building component significantly enhanced the depth and credibility of the Indo-French AMR collaboration, demonstrating a holistic approach that addressed both policy and practice.
Recognition and Impact
The sustained impact and strategic value of the Indo-French AMR collaboration were formally recognized in 2024, when bioMérieux was awarded the prestigious “Indo-French Cooperation of the Year” Award by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI). The award was presented during the 6th edition of the Indo-French Business Awards & Grand Prix VIE 2024, organized in partnership with Business France India and Team France Export, under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, and Mr. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo. This recognition validated the collaboration’s contribution to public health diplomacy, AMR awareness, and bilateral cooperation. It also reinforced bioMérieux’s positioning as a trusted and credible partner to governments and international institutions in addressing complex public health challenges.
Conclusion
The Indo-French AMR collaboration represents a comprehensive, multi-dimensional effort to address one of the most critical healthcare challenges facing India and the world. Through a carefully designed combination of policy dialogue, knowledge creation, geographic expansion, and capacity building, the initiative has delivered measurable impact while strengthening Indo-French relations in the healthcare and life sciences domain. More importantly, the collaboration has established a sustainable platform that can continue to evolve, expand, and support India’s long-term AMR strategy. It stands as a model for how industry, government, and international partners can work together to drive meaningful change in public health.
Unique Benefits and Contributions to Stakeholders and the AMR Ecosystem The Indo-French Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) initiative led by bioMérieux represents a distinctive and impactful contribution to India’s public health ecosystem, not merely because of its scale or visibility, but due to the way it redefined engagement, collaboration, and value creation across stakeholders. Unlike traditional industry-led conferences or isolated capacity-building programs, this initiative functioned as a multi-layered innovation in public–private cooperation, policy engagement, and health system strengthening. Its unique benefits lay in its ability to simultaneously address policy, practice, and people—three dimensions that are often treated in isolation when tackling AMR. Reframing Industry’s Role from Vendor to Knowledge Partner One of the most significant contributions of the initiative was the repositioning of industry—specifically bioMérieux—from a technology supplier to a trusted knowledge and policy partner. In the AMR ecosystem, interactions between industry and government are often transactional and limited to procurement or technical discussions.
This initiative broke that mold by creating a neutral, credible platform where industry expertise was leveraged to support public health objectives rather than product promotion. By co-creating the agenda with the Embassy of France in India and involving multilateral organizations such as WHO and national institutions like ICMR and NCDC, the initiative ensured that discussions remained policy-relevant, evidence-based, and aligned with national priorities. This approach enhanced trust among government stakeholders and demonstrated how industry can responsibly contribute to system-level problem solving without conflict of interest. As a result, bioMérieux emerged as a long-term stakeholder in India’s AMR journey rather than a short-term commercial participant. Creating a High-Trust, Neutral Policy Dialogue Platform A key innovation of the Indo-French AMR initiative was the creation of a high-trust, neutral dialogue space that brought together stakeholders who do not typically engage in the same forum. Policymakers, public health officials, clinicians, microbiologists, international experts, and industry leaders often operate in silos, each constrained by institutional mandates and priorities. The symposium and subsequent engagements successfully bridged these silos. The bilateral Indo-French framing added diplomatic weight and neutrality, enabling open discussions on sensitive issues such as surveillance gaps, stewardship challenges, laboratory capacity constraints, and implementation barriers at both national and state levels. Stakeholders benefited from exposure to international best practices while retaining ownership of locally relevant solutions. This model of engagement strengthened mutual understanding and reduced the traditional distance between policy formulation and ground-level realities. Elevating AMR from a Technical Issue to a Policy Priority Another unique contribution of the initiative was its success in elevating AMR from a predominantly technical and clinical issue to a broader public policy concern. While AMR is widely recognized within scientific and medical communities, it often struggles to compete for attention within crowded policy agendas. By aligning the initiative with India’s G20 presidency and embedding it within the framework of Indo-French cooperation, AMR was positioned as a strategic health security issue with global implications. The presence of senior government officials, representatives from central ministries, and nominees from the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser underscored this shift. The initiative helped reinforce the message that AMR requires governance solutions, inter-ministerial coordination, and sustained political commitment, rather than isolated technical interventions. This reframing benefited the entire ecosystem by strengthening the policy legitimacy of AMR-related investments and reforms. Translating Dialogue into Tangible Policy-Oriented Outputs Unlike many high-level conferences that conclude without concrete follow-up, the Indo-French AMR initiative placed strong emphasis on converting dialogue into actionable outputs. The development of the Indo-French AMR White Paper was a critical innovation in this regard. The white paper served as a structured synthesis of expert insights, practical recommendations, and shared priorities emerging from the symposium. For policymakers and public institutions, the white paper provided a consolidated reference document that could inform strategy, planning, and program design. For clinicians and technical experts, it validated their on-ground experiences and elevated them into policy discourse. For international partners, it demonstrated India’s commitment to evidence-based AMR action. This knowledge product extended the life and impact of the symposium far beyond the event itself, benefiting stakeholders who could not be present and ensuring continuity in engagement. Strengthening Central–State Linkages in AMR Action India’s healthcare system is highly decentralized, with states playing a critical role in implementation.
A distinctive benefit of the Indo-French AMR initiative was its conscious expansion beyond New Delhi to include state-level engagement, most notably through the Mumbai event. This shift acknowledged that national strategies on AMR can only succeed if they are adapted and operationalized at the state level. State government officials and regional healthcare leaders benefited from direct exposure to national and international perspectives on AMR, while central stakeholders gained insight into state-specific challenges and innovations. This two-way learning helped narrow the gap between policy intent and implementation capacity. By recognizing states as co-creators rather than mere implementers, the initiative strengthened ownership and relevance across the ecosystem. Building Human Capital Through Advanced Training and Skill Development Perhaps the most tangible and long-lasting contribution of the initiative was its investment in human capital through Indo-French training programs in microbiology and diagnostics. While policy dialogue is essential, AMR containment ultimately depends on the capabilities of laboratory professionals, technicians, and young clinicians working on the front lines. The training programs addressed a critical gap by focusing on advanced automation, modern diagnostic workflows, and hands-on learning. Participants at AIIMS Rishikesh, Sir J J Hospital Mumbai, and Medical College Kolkata benefited from exposure to cutting-edge technologies and international best practices, enhancing both their technical competence and professional confidence. Institutions benefited from strengthened laboratory capacity and improved diagnostic accuracy, which directly supports antimicrobial stewardship and patient outcomes. At an ecosystem level, the trainings contributed to standardization, quality improvement, and the creation of future-ready microbiology professionals.
Promoting Sustainable, Long-Term Capacity Rather Than One-Time Interventions A unique aspect of the initiative was its emphasis on sustainability over visibility. Rather than focusing solely on high-profile events, the collaboration invested in processes, relationships, and capabilities that would continue to deliver value beyond the project timeline. The training programs, institutional partnerships, and policy relationships established through the initiative created a foundation for ongoing collaboration. This long-term orientation benefited all stakeholders. Government institutions gained a reliable partner for future AMR-related initiatives. Healthcare institutions strengthened their academic and training profiles. Young professionals accessed skills that enhance employability and career progression. The broader AMR ecosystem benefited from continuity and institutional memory rather than fragmented interventions. Enhancing Public Health Diplomacy and Bilateral Cooperation The Indo-French AMR initiative also made a significant contribution to public health diplomacy by demonstrating how bilateral cooperation can be leveraged to address global health challenges. By aligning French scientific expertise and diplomatic engagement with India’s public health priorities, the initiative strengthened mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.
For stakeholders in both nations, the collaboration showcased a replicable model of health diplomacy that goes beyond symbolic agreements to deliver measurable impact. It reinforced the role of AMR as a shared global concern and positioned Indo-French cooperation as a driver of innovation, capacity building, and policy alignment in healthcare. Creating a Replicable Model for Public–Private Collaboration Beyond its immediate impact, the initiative contributed a replicable model for responsible public–private collaboration in health. Its emphasis on neutrality, alignment with national priorities, multi-stakeholder inclusion, and measurable outcomes addressed many of the concerns traditionally associated with industry involvement in policy spaces. Other companies, chambers, and international partners can draw lessons from this approach to design collaborations that are transparent, credible, and impact-driven. In this sense, the initiative’s contribution extends beyond AMR to the broader discourse on how industry can support public health without compromising integrity. Recognition as Validation of Ecosystem Value The “Indo-French Cooperation of the Year” Award conferred by IFCCI served not merely as recognition of bioMérieux’s efforts, but as validation of the ecosystem-level value created by the initiative. Awards of this nature reflect collective impact rather than individual achievement, underscoring the shared benefits realized by government institutions, healthcare professionals, international partners, and patients. Conclusion In sum, the Indo-French AMR initiative delivered unique and multi-dimensional benefits to the AMR ecosystem by reshaping roles, strengthening trust, building capacity, and translating dialogue into action. Its true innovation lay not in any single activity, but in the coherence and integrity of its approach—connecting policy with practice, diplomacy with delivery, and global expertise with local needs. As AMR continues to challenge health systems worldwide, this initiative stands as a powerful example of how collaborative innovation can create lasting value for stakeholders and society at large.
The Indo-French AMR initiative delivered tangible, multi-level impact across policy, institutional, and capacity-building dimensions. Three high-impact engagements were successfully conducted across New Delhi (June 2023), New Delhi – White Paper Launch (December 2023), and Mumbai (May 2024), establishing the first structured Indo-French bilateral platform on Antimicrobial Resistance in India. The initiative enabled direct engagement with over 150 senior stakeholders, including representatives from WHO, ICMR, MoHFW (NHSRC), NCDC, BIRAC (DBT), DST (PSA nominees), state governments, public hospitals, and international experts, significantly strengthening cross-sectoral dialogue on AMR governance and diagnostics.
A major measurable outcome was the development and launch of the Indo-French AMR White Paper, consolidating expert recommendations into a policy-relevant knowledge product used for continued stakeholder engagement and advocacy. On the capacity-building front, three Indo-French microbiology training programs were implemented at AIIMS Rishikesh, Sir J J Hospital Mumbai, and Medical College Kolkata, directly training young professionals and laboratory technicians in advanced diagnostics and automation, thereby strengthening institutional laboratory capacity. The initiative’s impact was formally recognized through the “Indo-French Cooperation of the Year” Award (IFCCI, 2024), validating its contribution to public health diplomacy, AMR awareness, and sustainable Indo-French collaboration.
ankit.misra@biomerieux.com
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