Indigenous solar-cell technology reflects spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat': Dr Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, May 26
Union MoS Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated an indigenously built Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition system at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science campus in Kolkata, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The system was developed for fabrication of India's first amorphous silicon solar cell, the statement from the Ministry of Science & Technology said, adding that the minister also inaugurated the institute's new incubation centre RETINA (Research Entrepreneurship for Translation, Innovation and Navigation).
The minister said the indigenous development of advanced solar-cell fabrication technology represented the spirit of scientific self-reliance and innovation that India is now accelerating under the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat".
He also said that the system built by Prof. Ashok Kumar Barua had pioneered amorphous silicon solar-cell development in India and marked an important chapter in the country's renewable-energy journey.
On the launch of the RETINA incubation centre, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India's scientific institutions are now increasingly integrating fundamental research with entrepreneurship, startup culture and societal applications.
He highlighted the future of Indian science lies in converting laboratory discoveries into affordable and scalable technologies capable of addressing national priorities in healthcare, clean energy, advanced materials and sustainable development.
The minister appreciated IACS for its contributions in quantum materials, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, battery materials, cancer biology and environmental technologies.
He referred to recent work carried out by scientists at IACS in areas such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy treatment research, toxic waste remediation, photodetectors, biosensors and sustainable energy materials.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said India's scientific institutions are entering a transformative phase aligned with the national vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, where innovation, academia, industry and startups will work together to position India among the world's leading knowledge economies.
He also appreciated the institute's outreach initiatives for school students, women and rural communities aimed at nurturing scientific temperament and expanding scientific participation across society.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Excellent initiative but I hope this technology reaches the common man soon. We keep hearing about lab breakthroughs but many rural areas still don't have reliable electricity. The RETINA incubation center sounds promising if it can actually commercialize this tech at affordable prices. Let's see how quickly this moves from lab to market.
As someone working in renewable energy sector, this is a very positive development. Amorphous silicon solar cells are great for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and wearable electronics. India should focus on niche applications where we can compete globally rather than just trying to mass-produce traditional panels like China.
I teach physics at a government college and the IACS has always been a beacon of quality research in India. But the real challenge is scaling up. We need to create an ecosystem where PhDs don't just publish papers but also become entrepreneurs. That's where RETINA could make a difference - connecting research with startups. Fingers crossed it delivers! 🤞
Good to see IACS getting recognition - they've been doing solid work in quantum materials and nanotechnology for years. But I'm a bit skeptical about the 'Atmanirbhar' tag being slapped on everything. True self-reliance means making this technology cost-competitive globally, not just developing it indigenously. Hope they have a clear roadmap for manufacturing at scale.
This is wonderful for India's renewable energy ambitions! The mention of outreach to school students and rural communities is especially heartening. We need to spark curiosity in young minds about science and technology. Maybe one day a village kid from Tamil Nadu
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