Azim Premji Foundation, the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), and the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) have collaborated to augment testing infrastructure and facilities to deal with the COVID- 19 pandemic. 

The collaboration is also for conducting research into new and innovative methods for testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The partnership would enable free-of-cost testing for COVID-19 to a large number of people from disadvantaged and marginalised communities, using NCBS-TIFR and inStem's high-capacity technical capabilities and skilled scientific personnel, said the statement released by the Azim Premji Foundation. 

The institutions will also actively research innovative methods of testing that can potentially help enhance the country's capacity and speed of COVID-19 testing considerably, it said. NCBS-TIFR and In-Stem are testing centres approved by their respective Departments, Atomic Energy (DAE) and Biotechnology (DBT), as per the guidelines of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), it was stated. 

Azim Premji Foundation and Wipro have committed a sum of Rs 1,125 crore to contribute towards an integrated nation-wide response to COVID-19 in coordination with government institutions and civil society partners, the statement said. 
According to the Forbes list of top 10 private donations, India’s leading business tycoon and Wipro founder Azim Premji have become the world’s third-biggest private donor to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The collaboration is for conducting research into new and innovative methods for testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.