Committed to enabling ease of research and innovation: Govt
New Delhi, June 14
India has entered an era where scientific advancement must increasingly be assessed through its societal and economic impact, according to the government.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that laboratories, academic institutions and industries must work in close coordination to ensure that innovations move beyond the proof-of-concept stage and reach end users at scale.
Highlighting the government's commitment to creating an enabling innovation ecosystem, Dr Singh urged industry representatives to candidly articulate the challenges they face in engaging with public-funded research institutions.
Addressing an industry interaction session on the sidelines of the 'RISE Conclave 2026' in Bengaluru, he highlighted the growing efforts being undertaken to improve access to indigenous technologies developed through public-funded research.
He informed participants that the CSIR Technology Showcase Portal currently hosts more than 800 technologies, offering industries, entrepreneurs and startups a ready platform to identify solutions suited to their requirements and accelerate technology adoption.
Dr Singh said that collaboration with industry should begin at the conceptualisation stage of research projects rather than after technologies have matured.
Such early engagement, he noted, would help align scientific pursuits with market requirements, facilitate technology transfer and improve the prospects of commercial success.
He underscored the need for deeper collaboration between research institutions, industry and startups to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into market-ready solutions and national development outcomes.
Citing examples from CSIR laboratories, he said that sophisticated facilities developed through public investment should increasingly function as common platforms accessible to innovators and industries working in emerging sectors.
The minister highlighted the example of a lithium battery manufacturing facility established with a production capacity of around 1,000 cells per day, demonstrating how scientific infrastructure can support both established industries and emerging enterprises in developing indigenous technological capabilities.
He also highlighted that dedicated incubation mechanisms are increasingly being developed to nurture startups working in frontier technology domains.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The CSIR Technology Showcase Portal sounds promising—800 technologies to pick from! But as a PhD student in materials science, I've seen how even basic IP licensing can take years. We need a single-window clearance for tech transfer. Still, a step in the right direction. 🇮🇳
I run a small startup in Bengaluru and we've tried to license a few CSIR technologies. The tech is world-class, but the pricing models are sometimes not aligned with what a startup can afford. Hope this push also brings more flexibility, like revenue-sharing instead of upfront fees.
The lithium battery facility producing 1,000 cells per day is exactly the kind of infrastructure India needs for aatmanirbhar Bharat in energy storage. But I hope we also scale up R&D in battery recycling. Innovation is not just about making something new, but making it sustainable long-term. 🌱
As someone who worked in the UK innovation ecosystem, the approach that Dr Singh is describing is reminiscent of the 'Catapult Centres' there—shared infrastructure for industry. The 'one lab many users' model works brilliantly if executed well. Let's hope the bureaucracy doesn't undo the vision. Hats off to the intent though.
The minister is right—India's R&D-to-product pipeline has been broken forever. The number of patents we file is low, and the number that get commercialized is even lower. Making industry sit at the table from Day 1 of research projects is not just wise; it's necessary if we want to compete globally.