Amid rising heart attack cases across the country, Dehradun-based Sunfox Technologies has achieved a significant milestone by winning the Gold Award in Innovation at the 2nd DHR-ICMR Research Excellence Summit. The award recognises Spandan AI-ECG, a pocket-sized cardiac diagnostic device that is rapidly becoming an essential tool for heart health nationwide. Designed and built entirely in India, Spandan is now acknowledged as the country’s leading Made-in-India ECG AI innovation for both home and clinical use.
Spandan is reshaping the ECG landscape with its portability, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. What truly distinguishes it is its mission to make heart health accessible even in remote and underserved regions.
With cardiovascular diseases continuing to be the foremost cause of mortality in India—and recent trends showing an increase in heart attacks among younger individuals—the need for fast and reliable ECG screening beyond hospital settings has become more urgent.
Sunfox’s leadership emphasised that early diagnosis can prevent most heart attacks in India and that the lack of readily available ECG services has long been a barrier. Spandan was developed to bridge this gap, enabling anyone, anywhere, to perform a quick heart assessment. The recognition from DHR and ICMR validates the impact of this vision and highlights the potential of Indian innovation to save lives.
The award from the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also underscores the growing strength of India’s deep-tech healthcare ecosystem. Sunfox expressed appreciation for the support extended by ICMR Chief Dr Bahl, Dr Suchita Markan, the Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat, Medtech Mitra, and the wider ICMR team, whose efforts continue to encourage homegrown healthcare solutions.
Spandan is already being used by thousands of doctors across India—in rural clinics, urban hospitals, ambulances, and by the Indian Army—reinforcing its position as the country’s top homegrown ECG innovation. Its popularity surged after securing an all-investor deal on Shark Tank India, and it has since been acknowledged by national and global leaders for improving the affordability and accessibility of heart care.
