Centre Unveils Strategic Roadmap to Empower State Science & Tech Councils; Push for Innovation-Driven Economy
In a significant step toward decentralising scientific progress and fostering innovation at the grassroots level, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday launched #NITIAayog’s comprehensive roadmap to strengthen state Science and Technology Councils across India.
The initiative is part of a broader push to align local research priorities with the national vision of transforming India into a #KnowledgeDrivenEconomy.
The unveiling event, held at the NITI Aayog headquarters in New Delhi, witnessed participation from key stakeholders in India’s scientific and policy ecosystem. Singh emphasized that science and technology are not just academic pursuits but the “core engines of growth” for India’s future, especially as the country aspires to become the world’s third-largest economy.
A New Chapter in Collaborative Innovation
Drawing a sharp contrast with the pre-2014 era, the Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission with NITI Aayog, calling it a paradigm shift towards long-term, evidence-based policymaking.
The roadmap, according to Singh, aims to deepen Centre-State coordination, enabling the discovery and deployment of regional scientific talent while ensuring research efforts translate into real-world impact.
“State S&T Councils must evolve into effective bridges between laboratories and local communities,” Singh said. He urged States to engage with industry, support start-ups, and create an environment that attracts #PrivateInvestment in innovation. “We can no longer depend solely on government funding. A mindset shift is vital to enable scalable innovation,” he asserted.
Public-Private Synergy & Success Stories
Singh highlighted several recent achievements that showcase India’s growing global credibility in the field of science and innovation.
These included the successful #Chandrayaan3 mission, breakthroughs in indigenous vaccine development, and advancements in gene therapy trials. India’s resident patent filings have surged by more than 50%, and approximately two-thirds of the country’s research output now comes from centrally funded institutions, indicating a robust national infrastructure for research.
A key pillar in the roadmap is the newly launched #AnusandhanNationalResearchFoundation (ANRF), described by Singh as a “game-changer.” The ANRF aims to catalyse collaborative research between academia and industry through co-investment mechanisms, closing long-standing gaps in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Additionally, Singh noted the government’s efforts to liberalise India’s space and nuclear sectors, encouraging more private participation. “The role of the government should now evolve into that of a facilitator, not a controller,” he remarked.
NITI Aayog & Scientific Community Weigh In.
#NITIAayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery echoed Singh’s vision, emphasizing that the roadmap provides States with the direction and tools to align local innovation with national development goals.
He underscored the importance of sustainable innovation, noting that the document aims to foster an inclusive innovation ecosystem rooted in environmental and economic resilience.
V.K. Saraswat, Member of NITI Aayog and a leading voice in Indian science, added that sustainability must be at the heart of all future research efforts. He called for robust capacity building at the State level, including training, institutional strengthening, and inter-sectoral collaboration.
The event also featured contributions from top scientific officials, including:
-
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of #CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
-
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences
-
Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of #ANRF
