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Prof. Krishna Agarwal Presents Breakthrough Arctic MedTech Innovation to Indian Parliamentarians in Tromsø
Prof. Krishna Agarwal showcased Arctic-driven medtech innovation to Indian MPs in Tromsø, highlighting AI-powered fertility technology, global research leadership, and strengthening Indo-Norwegian collaboration in healthcare innovation.
Prof. Krishna Agarwal Presents Breakthrough Arctic MedTech Innovation to Indian Parliamentarians in Tromsø
Prof. Krishna Agarwal, Founder & CEO of Spermotile and Professor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, delivered an insightful and high-impact presentation on Arctic-driven medical technology innovation during a special knowledge exchange programme organised by ProTromsø. The session brought together a delegation of five young Members of Parliament from India, alongside representatives from UN Women and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.
The delegation comprising Mr. Anup Sanjay Dhotre, Mr. Putta Mahesh Kumar, Mr. Sirgapoor Niranjan Reddy, Mr. Gowaal Kagada Padavi and Ms. Priya Saroj, India’s youngest MP at 26 visited Tromsø to understand Norway’s distinct approach to education, healthcare innovation, MSME growth and people-centric governance. Tromsø’s position as a global hub for Arctic innovation made it a key stop on their study tour.
Prof. Agarwal represented UiT’s thriving innovation ecosystem by showcasing advanced research from her laboratory in AI-powered optical imaging and diagnostics. Her medtech startup, Spermotile, became the focal point of discussion. The device, celebrated internationally for its AI-guided motion analysis and microfluidic design, redefines sperm selection for IVF/ICSI treatments. The Indian MPs expressed strong interest in its potential to support India’s rapidly expanding fertility healthcare industry.
She also shared her remarkable academic journey, beginning with her Gold Medal from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, followed by her doctoral research at the National University of Singapore and a postdoctoral appointment at the Singapore-MIT Alliance. Over the years, she has built a dynamic research environment in Tromsø one of the world’s northernmost scientific hubs leading a team of 20 researchers and securing more than €23 million in competitive grants from Norwegian and European bodies.
Prof. Agarwal’s achievements have been recognised globally. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad (2020), the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2017-2019), the AURORA Outstanding Fellow Award from the Tromsø Research Foundation, the URSI Young Scientist Award (2011), the President Graduate Fellowship from NUS (2008–2010), and the NUS Research Scholarship (2006–2008). Before entering academia, she served as a Scientist at India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), contributing to the development of advanced active phased-array radar systems.
The visit strengthened ongoing dialogue between India and Norway in science, technology, gender equity and sustainable innovation. The young MPs expressed admiration for Prof. Agarwal’s journey from India and Singapore to the Arctic frontier and recognised the global relevance of her work. The exchange is expected to open new avenues for Indo-Norwegian collaboration, including research partnerships, technology transfer and medtech innovation.
