The scope of the multi-disciplinary technology competition has been expanded to cover two distinct tracks: Robotic Procedure Innovation and Technological Innovation.

The Robotic Procedure Innovation entries can be from Cardiac, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Head & Neck, Microsurgery, Organ Transplant, Orthopaedics, Plastic Surgery, Paediatrics, Urology, and other areas.

The entries for Technological Innovation will cover areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Imaging Modalities, Robotic Systems, Tele Surgery, Training Modalities, Virtual Reality, and others.

The competition, initiated in 2015, is open to robotic surgeons, medical school faculty, and students, presenting an opportunity for a close examination of technologies and procedures being used globally to improve patient outcomes.

The entries will be put through multiple rounds of judging by international faculty, with top winners being awarded cash prizes for Runner-up and First place. Additionally, the top-ranking submissions will also gain entry to the international People’s Choice Award competition, with surgeons, medical staff, nurses, students, and hospital administrators from the Americas, Africa, Asia, Asia Pacific, and Europe picking their choice.

“The Vattikuti Foundation encourages teams of accomplished surgeons to prepare high-quality, digital submissions showcasing their most extraordinary surgical work employing the latest technological advances,” says Dr Mahendra Bhandari, CEO of Vattikuti Foundation.

The 2023 KS Innovation Awards attracted entries from 429 surgeons from 14 countries, submitting in 10 different specialties.

Entries can be submitted until July 15, 2024.

Submissions reflecting robotic and/or digital surgical procedures, products, and tools that improve patient outcomes by assisting surgeons pre-operatively, intra-operatively, or post-operatively are strongly encouraged. The Vattikuti Foundation seeks clinically relevant entries that show how new robotic technology is being used, capturing data predictive models before, during, and after an operation to improve patient outcomes as well as surgeon didactic and training skills.

The competition awards event and symposium—"Humans at the Cutting Edge of Robotic Surgery"—will be held in Jaipur, India in February 2025.

Select surgeons with innovative entries will have an opportunity to present and defend their work for knowledge transfer from experienced high-calibre surgeons to those who have embraced robotic technology in the recent past, aiming to offer state-of-the-art surgical care to patients in their specialty.

This competition is designed to be assessed in a fair, transparent, and unbiased manner while incorporating helpful ideas and hidden insights for the surgical community to learn from each other. Preference is given to complex surgical procedures, surgical innovations, and case series with well-analyzed outcomes data.

As part of Vattikuti Foundation’s capacity building outreach the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore has announced its first Brady-Vattikuti Robotic Academy masterclass in Urology under guidance of the accomplished robotic surgeons.

The week-long masterclass beginning May 13 will cover several hours of live case observation, simulation sessions and proctor-led procedural training with experts, said the foundation.

Who was KS?

The KS International Innovation Robotic Surgery Awards competition commemorates Mr. Krishnaswami Subramaniam (KS), the former CEO of Vattikuti Technologies, who significantly expanded the use of surgical robots across 15 Indian cities, increasing the installed base from five to 25 within five years before his passing in 2015. His efforts revolutionized the Indian healthcare sector, empowering surgeons with advanced tools like surgical robots.

What does Vattikuti Foundation do?

The Vattikuti Foundation, founded by Raj and Padma Vattikuti, is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing healthcare, particularly in the realm of robotic surgery. Its activities encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting innovation, education, and collaboration in this field.

The foundation plays a pivotal role in supporting research and development efforts to enhance robotic surgical systems and procedures. It also fosters education and training programs for surgeons, medical professionals, and students, facilitating the adoption of cutting-edge surgical techniques.

Under the leadership of CEO Dr Mahendra Bhandari, the foundation has expanded its global impact and outreach, advocating for patient-centred care and technological advancements in healthcare.

The foundation's paid fellowship programs provide opportunities for aspiring surgeons and medical professionals to gain hands-on experience and specialized training in robotic surgery, further contributing to the growth and development of this transformative field.

Through initiatives like the KS International Innovation Awards in Robotic Surgery, the foundation recognizes and celebrates excellence in robotic surgical innovations, promoting a culture of continuous learning and advancement in healthcare worldwide.