India Builds Its First Indigenous MRI: A 12-Year Journey Comes Alive
In a landmark achievement for India’s healthcare and technology ecosystem, Bengaluru-based start-up VoxelGrids has unveiled the country’s first fully indigenous MRI scanner. Deployed at the Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation near Nagpur, this 1.5-tesla MRI marks a decisive step toward reducing India’s dependence on imported high-end medical devices. Traditionally dominated by multinational firms such as Siemens, GE HealthCare, and Philips, the MRI segment has seen India importing most of its diagnostic equipment. VoxelGrids’ breakthrough signals the emergence of domestic expertise in complex medical imaging technology.The Vision Behind VoxelGridsThe journey to this milestone has been long and meticulous. Founded by Arjun Arunachalam, VoxelGrids spent over 12 years designing and building MRI technology entirely in India. The start-up’s mission is more than technological achievement; it reflects a desire to make advanced diagnostics accessible and affordable to millions of patients who face prohibitive costs for imaging services. For Arjun, the project was personal: witnessing the high expenses and limited availability of medical imaging in regional hospitals, he envisioned a solution that combined innovation with social impact.Breaking the Cost BarrierOne of the standout features of VoxelGrids’ MRI scanner is its elimination of liquid helium, a costly and scarce component traditionally used to cool MRI magnets. By developing a proprietary technology that stabilizes the magnet without helium, the company has reduced manufacturing costs by nearly 40 percent. This innovation not only lowers upfront costs for hospitals but also makes maintenance more feasible. Compact, energy-efficient electronics have further reduced power consumption, making the machine affordable to operate without compromising on image quality. This is particularly crucial for small and mid-sized hospitals, which form the backbone of India’s healthcare delivery system but often struggle with expensive diagnostic equipment.Reimagining Access: Flexible Usage ModelsUnderstanding that capital investment is a major hurdle for healthcare providers, VoxelGrids has introduced pay-per-use pricing models. Hospitals can now utilize MRI facilities dynamically, paying for scans as needed rather than investing in costly machines outright. This model promises to democratize access to high-end imaging, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. With India currently having only around 5,000 MRI machines, roughly 3.5 scanners per million people, this flexible approach addresses both infrastructure gaps and affordability.Technology That Competes GloballyVoxelGrids’ achievement is also a technological triumph. The scanner maintains standard bore size while incorporating innovations in magnet design, electronics, and power efficiency. MRI, which uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of internal organs, is a highly specialized field. India’s market has been historically controlled by five major global OEMs, capturing over 90% of MRI revenue. By successfully manufacturing a machine with comparable functionality domestically, VoxelGrids has challenged this status quo, paving the way for India to emerge as a global player in high-end diagnostic equipment.Manufacturing Capacity and Expansion PlansCurrently, VoxelGrids can produce 20–25 MRI scanners annually at its Bengaluru facility. Backed by USD 5 million in funding from Zoho and Gol, the company plans a commercial launch by the end of the financial year. Looking ahead, the start-up aims to innovate further with mobile, containerized MRI units, potentially expanding reach to remote regions. Once domestic demand is met, VoxelGrids also plans to explore exports, positioning India as a contributor to global medical technology solutions.A Boost to Made in India in HealthcareThe indigenous MRI scanner aligns perfectly with India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, showcasing that complex technologies can be developed domestically with vision, patience, and sustained effort. Beyond economics, it strengthens national healthcare security by reducing reliance on imports, a crucial factor in emergencies like the pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. The launch of India’s first fully indigenous MRI scanner is more than a technical achievement; it is a story of persistence, vision, and human impact. As the scanner comes online, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in India’s medical technology landscape—one where cutting-edge diagnostics are accessible, affordable, and proudly made in India.
