Union minister Jitendra Singh emphasized the critical need for deeper collaboration among research institutions, industry, and startups to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into market-ready solutions. According to reports from Business Standard, Singh made these comments while addressing an industry-interaction session on the sidelines of the RISE Conclave 2026 in Bengaluru. The minister called for industry leaders to actively engage with research institutions and participate in shaping the country's scientific agenda, with the objective being to create technologies, enterprises and solutions that contribute to employment generation, industrial competitiveness and improved quality of life. As per the latest press release, Singh noted that collaboration with industry should begin at the conceptualisation stage of research projects rather than after technologies have matured, emphasizing that such early engagement would help align scientific pursuits with market requirements, facilitate technology transfer and improve the prospects of commercial success. Highlighting the government's commitment to creating an enabling innovation ecosystem, Dr Singh urged industry representatives to candidly articulate the challenges they face in engaging with public-funded research institutions.
Singh highlighted that dedicated incubation mechanisms are increasingly being developed to nurture startups working in frontier technology domains. According to the latest press release, he noted that six incubation centres established under the CSIR ecosystem are supporting innovators through mentoring, technical guidance and access to research facilities, thereby strengthening the country's science-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem. The minister emphasized the importance of shared scientific infrastructure in reducing entry barriers for startups and small enterprises, citing examples from CSIR laboratories where sophisticated facilities developed through public investment should increasingly function as common platforms accessible to innovators and industries working in emerging sectors. He referred to advances in clean energy technologies, highlighting the example of a lithium battery manufacturing facility established with a production capacity of around 1,000 cells per day, demonstrating how scientific infrastructure can support both established industries and emerging enterprises in developing indigenous technological capabilities.
Singh highlighted the success of 'mach33.aero', the country's first public-private aerospace incubation centre established by CSIR-NAL in collaboration with partners, which has successfully completed five years of operations and incubated 34 startups. According to the latest reports, he noted that more than 125 startups are participating in the RISE Conclave 2026, many of them from the aerospace sector, reflecting the growing confidence of young innovators in high-technology domains. The minister emphasized that the 'RISE Conclave' was conceived with the objective of bringing together the four pillars of Research, Industry, Start-ups and Entrepreneurship under one platform, demonstrating the comprehensive approach to fostering innovation ecosystems. He highlighted that many of the transformative changes witnessed in the country's science and technology ecosystem can be traced back to the policy direction provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the Prime Minister's call for 'Startup India' in 2015 laying the foundation for a vibrant entrepreneurial culture.
Singh informed participants that the CSIR Technology Showcase Portal currently hosts more than 800 technologies, offering industries, entrepreneurs and startups a ready platform to identify solutions suited to their requirements and accelerate technology adoption. According to the latest press release, this initiative represents a significant step in improving access to indigenous technologies developed through public-funded research. The minister noted that laboratories, academic institutions and industries must work in close coordination to ensure that innovations move beyond the proof-of-concept stage and reach end users at scale. He emphasized the need for deeper collaboration between research institutions, industry and startups to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into market-ready solutions and national development outcomes, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that scientific advancement is increasingly assessed through its societal and economic impact.
The minister showcased the remarkable growth of India's startup ecosystem, noting that the country's start-up ecosystem, which comprised only around 350-400 startups about 10 years ago, has today expanded to nearly 2.3 lakh ventures. According to Business Standard, Singh credited initiatives such as the 2015 Startup India programme for building a supportive ecosystem that enables the country to harness its demographic dividend and emerge as a global innovation hub. He highlighted that the start-up movement has created nearly 24-25 lakh jobs over the last 10 years, demonstrating its significant contribution to employment generation. The latest press release emphasized that a strong startup ecosystem requires sustained institutional support beyond incubation, noting that emerging technology startups often face unique challenges and therefore require flexible policy frameworks that recognize the realities of innovation-led entrepreneurship. Singh noted that the startup ecosystem is not restricted to information technology, encompassing sectors such as agriculture, food processing and several others, making it a major economic force across multiple industries.
Singh noted that more than 50 per cent of India's startups are now emerging from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, demonstrating that innovation is no longer confined to metropolitan centres. As reported by Business Standard, he emphasized that entrepreneurship today is accessible to individuals with commitment, passion and technological aptitude, regardless of their location or formal educational qualifications. This geographic diversification suggests that India's startup ecosystem is becoming increasingly inclusive and distributed across different regions of the country. The interaction witnessed active participation from representatives of industry associations, startups, researchers and scientific institutions, who shared their experiences and offered suggestions on improving industry access to research infrastructure, enhancing technology transfer mechanisms and promoting innovation-led growth. Singh emphasized that "We must convey this message clearly and convincingly - that startup opportunities are available to everyone. What is required is passion, commitment, technological awareness and consistent hard work. The government is there to provide technology and handholding support."
