Jitendra Singh Charts Bold Roadmap for India’s Science-Driven Future, Anchored by ANRF and AI Innovation

New Delhi: In a high-level review meeting held on Monday, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, unveiled a forward-looking vision to accelerate India’s science-led growth through AI-powered innovation, deep-tech startups, and infrastructure democratization. The meeting focused extensively on the evolving role of the newly established Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the strategic scientific missions being advanced by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Dr. Singh chaired detailed discussions with Prof. Abhay Karandikar, the newly appointed CEO of ANRF, and Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, alongside senior DST officials. Emphasizing India’s transition from traditional research models to agile, industry-integrated innovation ecosystems, the Minister called for bolder reforms and strategic investments across priority sectors.

A highlight of the review was the “AI-for-Science” initiative, a flagship programme by ANRF that aims to deploy artificial intelligence to accelerate research breakthroughs in disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Using machine learning to model complex scientific equations, the programme is expected to enhance the speed and scale of discovery.

The Minister urged the leadership to initiate pilot projects under the AI-for-Science initiative immediately and demonstrate measurable progress. He also encouraged outreach to universities, especially Vice Chancellors, to broaden awareness and partnerships under the ANRF mission.

To empower startups and MSMEs in high-tech sectors, ANRF is preparing to roll out a “Small Business Deep Tech Innovation” programme — a catalytic funding mechanism designed to scale breakthrough technologies for real-world applications. The programme is expected to attract early-stage ventures developing solutions in biotechnology, climate science, advanced materials, and more.

In a move to democratize research capabilities, ANRF also plans to launch a “Cloud of Research and Innovation Infrastructure” — a digital platform that will grant access to underutilized scientific equipment and labs across India. This step is aimed at levelling the playing field for smaller institutions and startups that lack access to costly research infrastructure.

Recognizing the need for homegrown solutions in artificial intelligence, Dr. Singh directed ANRF to accelerate work on an “India AI Open Stack” — a foundational AI architecture embedded with science and engineering models tailored for Indian research problems. The Minister emphasized that such a stack would strengthen India’s position as a global leader in AI-driven scientific discovery.

Another significant proposal discussed was the creation of medical research parks within medical colleges to promote clinical innovation and biotech entrepreneurship. Dr. Singh asked the Foundation to explore this model, which would link research, startups, and healthcare institutions to boost translational outcomes in medicine.

Dr. Singh reiterated the need to shift from academic research to commercial innovation, urging ANRF to support venture builder models, industrial partnerships, and faster technology transfers. He called for more focus on converting patents and publications into market-ready technologies, a move that aligns with the government’s emphasis on “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and innovation-led economic growth.

He concluded the meeting with a call to prioritize high-impact sectors such as climate forecasting, material sciences, aerospace, drug development, and biochemistry, adding, “India must move from isolated innovation silos to an integrated, impact-driven ecosystem where research, startups, and industry co-evolve.”