India Poised for Industry-Led Innovation: Dr. Jitendra Singh on DST’s 55th Foundation Day

New Delhi: Celebrating the 55th Foundation Day of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday charted India’s scientific evolution, calling for a paradigm shift toward industry-led innovation to propel the nation into the league of global scientific leaders.

Addressing a distinguished gathering of scientists, innovators, and policymakers, Dr. Singh emphasized the need for deeper industry participation in research and development, asserting that the future of innovation in India lies in market-aligned, private sector-driven efforts.

“In India, knowledge partnerships alone don’t work — industry must have skin in the game,” the Minister stated, highlighting the urgent need to build a robust ecosystem where private players invest in and steer long-term scientific innovation.

Dr. Singh traced DST’s journey since its inception on May 3, 1971, crediting it with transforming India into a science and technology powerhouse. “The founding of DST mirrors the march of post-independence India in the field of science,” he said, noting how DST bridged the gap between research and governance to turn vision into tangible results.

He spotlighted key mission-mode programmes such as the National Supercomputing Mission, Cyber-Physical Systems, and the National Quantum Mission, lauding DST’s efforts to build an inclusive research ecosystem, especially with targeted initiatives for women, children, and marginalized communities.

India’s rapid climb in global scientific metrics was also underlined — from 81st in the Global Innovation Index in 2015 to 39th in 2024, and third globally in the number of start-ups, PhDs in science and engineering, and research publications. India is now also ranked 6th in the world in intellectual property filings.

A major highlight of his address was the mention of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) — a new statutory body designed to democratize research funding and expand university participation in national innovation efforts. He announced that two flagship schemes — the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund and the National Geospatial Mission — would now be steered by DST.

Reflecting on India’s changing mindset, Dr. Singh spoke of a “digitalisation of the Indian mind” that is revolutionizing the socio-scientific landscape. “Even a semi-literate person today prefers WhatsApp over pen and paper — that’s the extent of behavioural change,” he noted, suggesting that India’s scientific renaissance is as much cultural as it is technological.

The Minister also urged Indian scientific talent abroad to begin planning their return. “India today has everything to offer. It’s time we built a reverse pipeline for global talent, where our best minds return home to contribute,” he said.

Concluding with optimism, Dr. Singh declared, “This is one of the best times for science and research in India — and the best is yet to come.”

The event was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, DST Secretary Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Dr. Sharad Sharma (iSPIRT), and Adil Zainulbhai (Chairman, Capacity Building Commission) — reflecting the growing synergy between science, industry, and governance in shaping India’s innovation future.