Fourth All S&T Clusters' Meet in Chandigarh
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, chaired the Fourth All S&T Clusters' Meet held on October 9-10, 2026 at Panjab University, Chandigarh. The event was hosted by PU-IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations Foundation (PI-RAHI). Prof. Sood was joined by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, and Dr. Vishal Choudhary, Scientist-F, from the Office of the PSA. Other participants included Prof. Meenakshi Goyal (Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University), Prof. Rajeev Ahuja (Director, IIT Ropar), Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal (Director, IIT Jodhpur), Prof. Rajat Sandhir, Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh (Director, PI-RAHI), and representatives from all eight S&T Clusters.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Sood noted that the Clusters have evolved into integrated ecosystems addressing regional, industrial, and societal challenges, increasingly functioning as "National Technology Accelerators." He emphasized strengthening inter-Cluster collaboration, stakeholder participation, coordination with RuTAG and RSVCs, and technology visibility. The global engagement of Clusters was highlighted, including 12 international MoUs emerging from the First International Conference on S&T Clusters and subsequent partnerships with the University of Western Australia, India–Australia Smart Farm Network, and UK Catapult Network.
Technology Launches and Initiatives
During the inaugural session, Prof. Sood launched an Automatic Weather Station, emphasizing technology-enabled solutions for climate-smart and data-driven agriculture. The meeting showcased key inter-Cluster initiatives in sustainable mobility and clean technologies, including the inauguration of an EV Charging Station in Himachal Pradesh and the EVChargex Battery Swapping Station in Panchkula. The Himachal Pradesh initiative integrates charging infrastructure, EV users, and digital services through collaboration between DRIIV and PI-RAHI to support the state's transition to electric mobility. The Panchkula facility demonstrates the commercial deployment of indigenous battery-swapping technology, integrating EVs, batteries, rider onboarding, and digital management on a common platform.
Additional launches included the Phycotree – Microalgal Photobioreactor report highlighting DRIIV's efforts in technology transition from identification to field validation, including engagement with GMR for applications at New Delhi IGI Airport; Kalaanubhav portal for PI-RAHI featuring traditional crafts and products of artisans from Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir; SPARKS 2.0; IGNITE 2.0; GINI 2.0; the STI Ecosystem of Northern India Reports; and an MoU signing ceremony. The meeting also announced the UK Catapults–S&T Clusters collaboration in Healthcare, Emerging Technologies, and Net Zero Technologies.
Stakeholder Engagement and Future Plans
Scientific Secretary Dr. Maini emphasized building a connected National Cluster Network through sharing technologies, infrastructure, expertise, and industry partnerships. She highlighted inter-Cluster replication through D-PoC, Kalaanubhav and i-Passport, and called for stronger industry participation from R&D to validation, commercialization, and scale. A dedicated Stakeholders Meet brought together industry partners, CSR partners, academic institutions, and government representatives for interaction with S&T Cluster leadership to discuss greater participation and strengthened partnerships for technology development, validation, and deployment.
On the second day, Prof. Sood inaugurated Northern India's first Digital Podiatric Clinic at the Panjab University Health Centre, established by PI-RAHI under a CSR partnership from HL Klemove. The clinic deploys AI-powered foot-screening technology for early detection and preventive care of diabetic foot conditions. Prof. Sood also announced the 2nd International Conference on S&T Clusters, marking the next phase of international outreach.
The two-day meeting provided a platform to review progress of all eight S&T Clusters: Pune Knowledge Cluster Foundation (PKCF), Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Foundation (JCKIF), Bhubaneswar City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster (BCKIC), Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation (DRIIV), AMTZ-Vizag Cluster, Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster (BeST), Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH), and PI-RAHI. Discussions focused on technology translation, inter-cluster collaboration, industry engagement, and strengthening regional innovation ecosystems.
Conceived in 2020 following recommendations of the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), the S&T Clusters program brings together academia, research institutions, industry, startups, government, and other stakeholders to address regional challenges through science, technology, and innovation.