Leading vaccine maker Bharat Biotech on May 11 received the National Technology Award for 2018 from the Central government's Technology Development Board for its Rotavac vaccine.

This prestigious award for innovative technologies, successfully developed and commercialized from India, was presented by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Technology Day ceremony held at Vigyan in New Delhi. Launched in 2015 Rotavac was introduced into the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in India during 2016, with initial implementation in 9 states. Till date, Bharat Biotech has supplied about 35 million doses to the UIP.

The vaccine is already saving infant lives and lowering the cost of hospitalizations across India. The company has also initiated supply of WHO Prequalified Rotavac to UNICEF and other Immunization programmes worldwide, the Hyderabad-based company said in a statement. "We are proud to receive the National Technology Award 2018 for ROTAVAC, it proves that researchers and product developers from India are capabable to develop and commercialize innovative technologies for the world," said Krishna M Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech.

The national award from the Technology Development Board award recognizes organizations, who have forged powerful partnerships with the national laboratories and to create knowledge networks with academic institutions to promote research and development and to gain entry into global markets. Rotavac boasts a large family of intellectual property with patents filed in more than 35 countries and granted in 10 countries including India, USA, China, EU, Japan, and Britain. Bharat Biotech currently, holds a portfolio of 60 patents and has delivered more than 3 billion doses of vaccines to over 65 countries.