Jitendra Singh Inaugurates India’s First CSIR Innovation Complex in Mumbai

Mumbai: In a landmark step toward fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually inaugurated India’s first CSIR Innovation Complex in Mumbai. This state-of-the-art facility, equipped with advanced infrastructure and expertise, aims to bolster India’s position as a global innovation hub.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Dr. Singh credited the government’s initiatives for transforming India into the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, home to over 100 unicorns. “This remarkable growth reflects the transformative policies empowering youth and driving economic self-reliance,” he stated during the inauguration.

The CSIR Innovation Complex (IC Mumbai), spread across nine floors, features 24 ready-to-move incubation labs, furnished office spaces, and networking facilities designed to support startups, MSMEs, deep-tech companies, and public-funded research institutions. Dr. Singh emphasized that the complex will enhance tech-transfer activities and business development for CSIR labs, particularly leveraging Mumbai’s strategic advantages.

The facility also includes six conference rooms, lounges, and high-end labs tailored to accelerate research and innovation in critical domains. Memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed with six prestigious institutions, including IIT Bombay and iCreate, to boost industry collaboration, employment generation, and technology transfers.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director-General of CSIR, lauded the department’s global partnerships with countries such as Germany, Norway, and Switzerland. She also highlighted key innovations, including steel slag technology used in five national highways, the development of zero-liquid discharge plants, and India’s indigenous Paracetamol production.

Dr. Kalaiselvi described the inauguration as a decadal dream realized, showcasing CSIR’s dedication to indigenous technology and self-reliance. “Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @2047 are guiding principles for our journey forward,” she added.

Dr. V.K. Paul of NITI Aayog praised CSIR’s efforts during the pandemic, calling its team “COVID warriors” for their work on CRISPR diagnostic tests, oxygen concentrators, and other lifesaving innovations. Fellow NITI Aayog member Dr. V.K. Saraswat emphasized the need to bring innovation closer to industry, leveraging India’s cost-effective development capabilities.

Dr. Ram Vishwakarma, a key figure in establishing the complex, detailed its facilities, which include 24 labs and 24 office spaces for startups, designed to nurture cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial growth.

Dr. Singh underscored the importance of facilities like IC Mumbai in fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation, aligning with the government’s vision for nation-building. “This complex embodies the spirit of a self-reliant India, paving the way for a brighter, more innovative future,” he concluded.