Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has urged industry to play a stronger role in converting scientific research into commercial products and technologies, stressing that closer collaboration between businesses, research institutions and startups will be essential to India’s technological ambitions.
Addressing the 121st annual session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on Saturday, Singh said India needs to move beyond adopting technologies developed elsewhere and focus on creating indigenous solutions with global relevance.
He called for stronger partnerships between government, industry, academia and research institutions to help innovations progress from laboratories to market-ready applications.
The minister highlighted progress under the National Quantum Mission, saying India had achieved 1,000 kilometres of quantum-secure communication in three years against a target of 2,000 kilometres over eight years. He noted that quantum communication has strategic and security significance and that developing domestic expertise in advanced technologies remains important.
Singh also referred to the growth of India’s bioeconomy, which he said had expanded substantially over the past decade. The government has set a target of reaching a bioeconomy worth US$300 billion by 2030.
He emphasised that businesses should engage with research projects from the early stages so that scientists can better understand market needs and develop technologies with practical applications.
The minister also pointed to the importance of private-sector investment in research and development. Greater participation by industry, he said, could help turn scientific advances into viable enterprises, create economic opportunities and strengthen India’s technological capabilities.
He encouraged industry bodies to connect researchers, entrepreneurs and investors, helping promising ideas secure the support needed for commercial development.
Singh said India’s ambitions for 2047 would depend on faster execution, stronger innovation partnerships and the ability to scale home-grown technologies. Closer cooperation between scientific institutions and businesses, he added, would be important in building globally competitive solutions and strengthening the country’s strategic self-reliance.
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