History of SBMT
Founding and Vision
The Society for Biomedical Technology (SBMT) was established through a landmark collaboration between the Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The initiative was further strengthened by the active participation of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and premier medical institutions, including:
NIMHANS, Bangalore
SCTIMST, Trivandrum
The Launch
The Society was officially inaugurated on June 27, 1993, at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad. The ceremony was led by Dr. P. Rama Rao (then Secretary, DST) in the presence of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (then Secretary, DRDO and Scientific Adviser to the Raksha Mantri).
SBMT was formally registered in Bangalore on October 1, 1993. Its registered office is located at the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) in Bangalore, with the Director of DEBEL serving as the Society's Chief Executive.
Research & Academic Collaboration
The Society’s research mandates are executed through specialized DRDO laboratories, as well as several prestigious academic and medical institutions across India.
Organizational Structure
The Society operates under a robust multi-tier governance model to ensure strategic alignment between defense and healthcare sectors:
Management Council: Chaired jointly by the Secretaries of DRDO and DST. It includes the Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DG, ICMR) and the Directors of NIMHANS and SCTIMST.
Advisory Council: Provides high-level strategic guidance for long-term goals.
Programme Management Board: Oversees the technical and operational execution of activities.