India’s First Made-in-India MRI Scanner Goes Live in Maharashtra
India is now achieving significant milestones in healthcare by launching its indigenous MRI scanner, developed by a Bengaluru-based startup named VoxelGrids. This diagnostic system has been installed at the Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation, near Nagpur. It is now being used for patient care and is bringing lots of changes to the current healthcare sector.
While it is backed by Zoho Corporation and supported by the Government of India, this development shows India’s growing ability to build high-quality and impactful medical technologies within the country.
A Journey of 12 Years to Build a World-Class MRI Scanner
VoxelGrids focused on reducing the dependence on imported medical imaging equipment, and this became their primary mission. This startup was founded by Arjun Arunachalam and led by him. The team took nearly 12 years to research, test, and refine the technology.
The result was unveiled on December 25, 2025. While traditional machines are heavy and costly, this new technology focuses more on reliability and affordability. It also made it easy for hospitals of all sizes.
Why Does this MRI Scanner Matter to Indian Hospitals?
The scanner in the machine uses a helium-free dry magnet and removing the need for the use of liquid helium, which is comparatively expensive and also challenging to source. This makes the system around 40% cheaper for manufacturers, which in turn saves energy and makes it much lighter than conventional machines.
The machine has a compact design, weighing just 2-3 tonnes compared to the usual 6-tonne systems. The system also handles power fluctuations more effectively, which is a significant advantage in areas with an unstable electricity supply. VoxelGrids has even reduced hospitals investment by implementing a pay-per-use technology model.
The Support by the Government for this InnovationÂ
The project was developed under the National Biopharma Mission, underlining the importance of public and private sector collaboration. Out of the ₹17 crore project cost, a fund of ₹12 crore was provided by BIRAC, which operates under the Department of Biotechnology(DBT).Â
This played a key role in transforming a long-term research effort into a real-world healthcare solution and in changing how patient care is delivered.
Bridging India’s Diagnostic GapÂ
India now has only about 5000 MRI machines, which is roughly 3.5 scanners per million people. This shortage of machines slows diagnosis in rural and semi-urban areas.
VoxelGrids aims to expand this diagnostic system beyond the country by making the advanced imaging machine more affordable and accessible. This success strengthens the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and, at the global level, proves that Indian startups can also deliver more innovative and competitive healthcare technologies.Â
