PP NEWS LINE DESK<\/p>\n
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 15 : Making a strong case for innovation driven economy with larger participation of private sector, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that India\u2019s transformation from a technology importer to an innovation-driven \u00a0exporter is being powered by institutions like the CSIR\u2013National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), which combine scientific research with sustainability and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Minister, while speaking at the Grand Finale of the Golden Jubilee Milestone Observation Program of CSIR\u2013NIIST at Thiruvananthapuram, recalled that 50 years ago the institute was envisaged with the objective to harness vast natural resources of the southern peninsula for scientific advancement.<\/p>\n
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Marking 50 years of the institute\u2019s establishment, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the new Golden Jubilee Building and the CSIR\u2013NIIST Innovation Centre, designed to convert research ideas into viable products and startups. \u201cFrom agriculture to artificial intelligence, the Innovation Centre will nurture startups, support entrepreneurs, and fuel an innovation-led economy,\u201d he said, noting that the first cohort of ten startups has already completed incubation.<\/p>\n
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The Minister informed that the Government of Kerala had allotted land at Thonnakkal for a proposed Center for Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship within the Bio 360 Life Sciences Park. \u201cThis facility will accelerate translational research in biotechnology and life sciences, turning lab breakthroughs into life-changing realities,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
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Highlighting key achievements of the institute, Dr. Jitendra Singh cited four innovations with national significance \u2014 a biomedical waste conversion rig installed at AIIMS Delhi that turns infectious waste into non-toxic material; the development of a \u201cdesigner rice\u201d suitable for diabetic and pre-diabetic populations; indigenous Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVMs) to reduce import dependency; and research on sustainable packaging alternatives to plastics. \u201cThese initiatives reflect science with social impact,\u201d he said, adding that such technologies directly support national missions including Swachh Bharat, Ayushman Bharat, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.<\/p>\n
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Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also serves as Vice President of CSIR, lauded NIIST\u2019s performance despite being a relatively small institute. Over the past two years, its institutional budget has increased by 1.5 times to over \u20b9120 crore, with half spent on R&D. The lab has transferred 28 technologies, signed 65 industry agreements, and achieved record levels of external funding and research output, reflecting what the Minister described as \u201cpurposeful excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Minister recalled the institute\u2019s leadership in organizing the 10th India International Science Festival at IIT Guwahati in 2024, which saw more than 40,000 participants. \u201cHosting such a major event from the southern tip of the country to the North East demonstrates the unity and leadership of CSIR\u2013NIIST,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Calling for stronger collaboration among government, industry, and academia, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the \u201cwhole-of-government\u201d and \u201cwhole-of-nation\u201d approach envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is key to India\u2019s scientific progress. \u201cWe must move from government dependence to self-sustaining ecosystems with greater private sector participation,\u201d he noted. He underscored the need for closer coordination across ministries and scientific institutions, calling it integration of \u201cinterdisciplinary\u201d woth “inter-governmental\u201d approach.<\/p>\n
Citing ongoing collaborations between CSIR and the Department of Biotechnology, and the government\u2019s decision to open up the space and nuclear sectors to private players, he said this integrated model represents the future of India\u2019s innovation framework.<\/p>\n
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Linking science to the national growth story, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that India\u2019s Global Innovation Index ranking has improved from 81 in 2014 to 38 this year, reflecting the country\u2019s emergence among the world\u2019s top innovation performers. Nearly 55 percent of patents filed from India are now resident patents, he said, underscoring growing domestic capacity and confidence. With rising R&D investments and greater industry participation, India\u2019s scientific institutions are poised to become major contributors to sustainable growth and innovation-led economic resilience.<\/p>\n
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The Minister also highlighted that CSIR\u2013NIIST has laid foundations for two Centres of Excellence \u2014 one in Ayurveda Research and another in Performance Chemicals and Sustainable Polymers \u2014 reflecting Kerala\u2019s heritage in traditional medicine and India\u2019s focus on green technologies. He said the Innovation Centre embodies the vision of \u201cConcept to Commercialization,\u201d ensuring that research translates into tangible benefits for people and industry alike. These initiatives, he added, align with national missions such as Poshan Abhiyaan, Swachh Bharat, and Atmanirbhar Bharat, positioning the institute as a vital part of India\u2019s innovation ecosystem.<\/p>\n
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Reaffirming the government\u2019s commitment to advancing sustainable technologies and enabling industry transformation, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that initiatives such as Viksit Bharat 2047 and the BioE3 Policy are creating an enabling environment for research-led growth. \u201cCSIR stands at the heart of India\u2019s innovation movement, fostering partnerships and delivering solutions that directly impact people\u2019s lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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As the Golden Jubilee celebrations concluded, Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated the CSIR\u2013NIIST community, calling the institute \u201ca powerhouse of purposeful excellence\u201d and expressing confidence that it will continue to contribute to India\u2019s emergence as a global leader in science and innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PP NEWS LINE DESK THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 15 : Making a strong case for innovation driven economy with larger participation of private sector, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that India\u2019s transformation from a technology importer to an innovation-driven \u00a0exporter is being powered by institutions like the CSIR\u2013National Institute for Interdisciplinary […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[235],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-jammu-and-kashmir"],"yoast_head":"\n