Grand Challenges Meet: A collaboration to solve the global health crisis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural function of the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020.  The meeting will be held virtually from October 19 to 21. It will bring together policymakers and scientific leaders from across the globe for deepened scientific collaborations with the aim of solving the global health crisis. The greater emphasis will be given to the current COVID-19 pandemic with an "India for the World" framing.

Here are the key things to know

International innovation collaborations

For the last 15 years, the Grand Challenges Annual Meeting has been fostering international innovation collaborations thereby addressing the biggest challenges in health and development.

Three-day programme

The three-day programme will witness talks, panel discussions and virtual informal conversations on scientific interventions for fighting and managing the pandemic. It will also hold talks about accelerating the development and implementation of global solutions to fight the pandemic.

Number of participants

Approximately, 1,600 people from 40 countries are expected to participate in the meeting this year.

Global health problems

India will be at the centre of discussions this year. The meeting will help deepen scientific collaborations in solving global health problems with deeper emphasis on COVID-19 with an "India for the World" framing.

Co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020 will be co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, , Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology, the Indian Council of Medical Research and NITI Aayog, the Grand Challenges Canada, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Challenges to manage COVID-19

One of the key priorities will be to  accelerate progress across the sustainable development goals in the post-pandemic world. It will also elaborate on addressing the challenges to manage COVID-19 pandemic.

How it works

The Grand Challenges India works across a range of health and developmental priorities. It covers topics ranging from agriculture, sanitation, nutrition, maternal and child health to infectious diseases.

Grand Challenges India partnership

Grand Challenge India was set up as a partnership of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012. Later on, Welcome also joined the partnership.