Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the 85th Foundation Day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), emphasizing that technological sovereignty is crucial to national sovereignty and that India cannot remain indefinitely dependent on imported technologies in areas critical to its economy, security, and development. He directed CSIR laboratories to identify areas of critical technological dependence and work toward indigenous solutions that are globally competitive in performance, quality, and cost, with ambitions extending beyond import substitution to becoming a technology provider to the world.
Dr. Singh highlighted CSIR's institutional legacy spanning over eight decades across 37 laboratories with more than 10,000 personnel, noting that its success stories have given distinct identities to different states through contributions in leather technologies, jewellery, healthcare, agriculture, road technologies, food technology, and aerospace. He called for shortening the journey from discovery to deployment through stronger industry linkages from project inception, stating that industry should be a co-creator rather than merely a partner, bringing market understanding, scale, cost considerations, and customer requirements to complement scientific capabilities.
The Minister referenced India's cross-ministerial approach to emerging technologies through the National Quantum Mission, IndiaAI Mission, and India Genome Mission, and cited specific CSIR developments including electric tractors, indigenous pharmaceutical technologies, continuous-flow processes, advanced road technologies, solar technologies, and mechanized sewer-cleaning solutions. He stressed the importance of making scientific institutions more accessible to society and translating research into citizen benefits, noting increased public engagement through opened facilities and exhibitions.
During the celebrations at C. R. Subramaniam Hall, NASC Complex, Dr. Singh unveiled CIRA: CSIR's Innovation and Research Ambassador mascot, released a CSIR@85 special postal stamp, CSIR Industry Connect Video, and CSIR Technology Compendium. The event featured technology exhibitions, transfers, and a Sci-Art Gallery, attended by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi (Secretary DSIR and DG CSIR), laboratory directors, scientists, industry representatives, startups, and over 40 ambassadors from 14 countries. Dr. Kalaiselvi described the milestone as historically and strategically important, while Dr. Singh challenged CSIR to prepare for India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by accelerating technology translation, strengthening industry partnerships, and ensuring continued relevance to emerging national requirements.