Hyderabad, Feb 28 (Reporter) The World Economic Forum –Telangana Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) was inaugurated on the final day of the three-day Bio Asia 2024 held at HICC on Wednesday. Telangana IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu officiated the launch. Addressing the gathering, Minister Sridhar Babu expressed the significance of the day, marking the inauguration of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Telangana (C4IR Telangana). He emphasized the commitment to societal betterment, particularly in healthcare and health technology. Minister Sridhar Babu extended warm greetings on behalf of the Government of Telangana, highlighting the collaborative and innovative journey of C4IR Telangana. The launch, he stated, opens doors to immense possibilities for the future, leveraging the strength of Telangana and its life sciences ecosystem. Telangana, contributing 40 per cent of India's pharma production and hosting over 1,000 global healthcare and life science companies, was noted as an ideal location for the center. Minister Sridhar Babu acknowledged the state's role in vaccine production and its prominence as a hub for technology giants. The Minister also recognized healthcare challenges, especially in rural areas, and outlined the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to address disparities. The initiative aims to expand healthcare access beyond Telangana's borders. The new initiative by the Telangana government, Minister Sridhar Babu emphasized, focuses on infrastructure development, creating opportunities, skilling talent, and attracting global talent. The collaboration with college principals aims to align with the vision of generating employment opportunities in the state. C4IR Telangana's three core focus areas were outlined as skilling for livelihood and growth, health profiling and clinical registries for evidence-based care, and the promotion of innovative clinical studies for cutting-edge therapies. Jeremy Jergens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, spoke on the forum's decision to establish the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Telangana. He emphasized the importance of addressing fundamental areas like health and education through innovation and technology. Jergens highlighted the potential of harnessing AI, medical devices, and genomics to improve healthcare resilience. He pointed out underutilized healthcare data and the need to unlock its potential through AI, aiming to improve treatments and reduce costs. The WEF's commitment to collaborations for a better future, particularly in healthcare, was reiterated. The choice of Telangana was justified by Jergens, citing partnerships with the government and businesses, and expressing anticipation for ongoing discussions...////...