Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Thursday inaugurated a Department of Science and Technology (DST)-funded Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) and three new research clusters at IIT Gandhinagar, aimed at strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and accelerating the translation of research into practical solutions.
Addressing the programme titled “Advancing Research & Innovation Towards Viksit Bharat with the Inauguration of Major Research Initiatives”, the Minister said scientific research should be measured not only by publications but also by its contribution to society and the economy. He stressed the need for a strong ecosystem that enables discoveries to move from laboratories to deployment through collaboration among academia, industry and government.
The newly launched research clusters include the Advanced Materials Research Cluster (AMRC), Energy Research Cluster (ERC) and Healthcare & MedTech Research Cluster (HMRC). These centres are expected to focus on developing deployable technologies in areas critical to national development, including materials self-reliance, clean energy and affordable healthcare.
Highlighting the growing role of industry in research, Dr Singh said nearly 70 industries have joined the initiative as founding partners, reflecting increasing confidence in industry-academia collaboration. He noted that the new clusters have been designed around a translational research model, where scientific discoveries are taken through stages of validation, pilot development and technology transfer.
The Minister said recent science policy initiatives have focused on widening access to research opportunities and funding. Referring to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), he said the initiative seeks to extend financial and technical support beyond traditional centres of excellence and promote broader participation in research activities.
Describing the current period as a decade of science and technology, Dr Singh said India is increasingly emerging as a key player in frontier technologies. He pointed to initiatives such as the National Quantum Mission and the IndiaAI Mission as examples of efforts creating new opportunities for researchers and institutions.
During the event, the Minister also inaugurated the Central Instrumentation Facility and released a booklet on the facility. He said shared scientific infrastructure would enable researchers, startups and industries to access advanced equipment and facilities, supporting innovation and national priorities, including the semiconductor sector.
Dr Singh later visited the IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, where he interacted with startups and faculty-led technology demonstrations. Established with support from the Department of Science and Technology, the research park currently hosts more than 20 companies and supports over 30 startups, serving as a platform for collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs and industry.
Emphasising the importance of early industry engagement, the Minister said partnerships with industry should begin at the conceptual stage of research projects to facilitate technology transfer and ensure that innovations address real-world needs.
Referring to the recently announced ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiative, he said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing private-sector participation in research and innovation. He also encouraged institutions and innovators to seek support from industry and philanthropic organisations to further strengthen the research ecosystem.
The Minister also interacted with representatives of NAMTECH and appreciated efforts to develop future-ready talent through industry-integrated learning models aligned with emerging technology sectors.
During the visit, Dr Singh released a publication highlighting IIT Gandhinagar’s top 25 research achievements of 2025. He commended the institute’s interdisciplinary approach and its focus on sustainable development, creative learning and research aimed at solving practical challenges.
Expressing confidence in the impact of the newly launched initiatives, the Minister said that research clusters, shared scientific infrastructure and industry-linked innovation ecosystems would strengthen India’s scientific capabilities and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He added that India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation would be driven by institutions where research, innovation and industry work together to build national capabilities.
