Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated major research initiatives at IIT Gandhinagar during the programme 'Advancing Research & Innovation Towards Viksit Bharat'. The Minister launched a Department of Science & Technology (DST) funded Central Instrumentation Facility and three new Research Clusters: Advanced Materials Research Cluster (AMRC), Energy Research Cluster (ERC), and Healthcare & MedTech Research Cluster (HMRC). These facilities are designed to transform cutting-edge research into deployable solutions for national development, addressing India's critical challenges in materials self-reliance, clean energy, and affordable healthcare.
Nearly 70 industries have joined as founding partners in this industry-academia research initiative, reflecting growing confidence in collaborative research models. The Minister emphasized that the true value of scientific research lies in creating tangible societal and economic impact rather than mere publications, advocating for a translational research approach where scientific discovery moves through pilot development, validation, and technology transfer.
The Minister highlighted recent science policy initiatives including the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) which aims to democratize access to research opportunities and funding beyond traditional centers of excellence. He also referenced the government's ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiative as evidence of commitment to strengthening private-sector participation in research.
The Central Instrumentation Facility at IIT Gandhinagar will serve as shared scientific infrastructure, allowing researchers, startups, and industries access to sophisticated facilities that support national priorities including India's semiconductor mission. The IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, established with DST support, currently hosts over 20 companies and supports more than 30 startups, serving as a platform for collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry to accelerate innovation and commercialization.
During the visit, the Minister interacted with startups and faculty-led technology demonstrations and released a publication showcasing IIT Gandhinagar's top 25 research achievements of 2025. He emphasized the institute's interdisciplinary approach and focus on sustainable development, creative learning, and solving real-world problems. The Minister expressed confidence that these initiatives would strengthen India's scientific capabilities and contribute meaningfully toward achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.