Science and technology minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind CSIR Innovation Complex in Mumbai.
Highlighting the country’s strides in innovation and entrepreneurship, the minister mentioned that India has transformed into a global hub for start-ups and technological advancements.
Thriving Start-up Ecosystem
Dr. Singh expressed pride in India’s position as the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, with over 100 unicorns exemplifying the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit.
He attributed this success to the government’s transformative policies that empower youth and foster economic self-reliance.
CSIR’s Pioneering Role in Innovation
Applauding the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. Singh acknowledged its contributions to the nation’s scientific and technological progress.
He highlighted its role in meeting national needs through innovative research, industrial collaborations, and entrepreneurship development.
Strengthening Industry Collaboration
To bolster innovation, six memoranda of association were signed between CSIR and prestigious institutions, including IIT Bombay, iCreate, and NRDC.
Additionally, fifty technology transfers from CSIR institutes to start-ups, MSMEs, and other organizations were formalized, further boosting industry collaboration and employment generation.
State-of-the-Art Facility in Mumbai
Dr. Singh described the CSIR-IC Mumbai as a world-class innovation and incubation facility designed to address unmet translational needs.
Spread across nine floors, the facility features twenty-four ready-to-move incubation labs, furnished office spaces, and networking areas for start-ups, MSMEs, and industry collaborators.
He emphasized that the facility will support business development, technology transfer, and
deep-technology innovation for CSIR labs and partners from India and abroad.
Mumbai’s strategic location, he added, will serve as a hub to strengthen incubator networks across CSIR labs.
Decadal Dreams Turned Reality
CSIR Director-General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi celebrated the realization of a decade-long dream, crediting her predecessors for laying the groundwork.
She highlighted CSIR’s international collaborations with countries like Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.
Dr. Kalaiselvi praised CSIR’s contributions to indigenous technologies, citing examples such as India’s first zero-liquid discharge plant and the development of indigenous Paracetamol.
She also noted the success of the ‘Purple Revolution,’ which promotes novel, home grown innovations.
Driving Towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Each year, CSIR develops 10–15 globally recognized technologies, Dr. Kalaiselvi shared.
Notably, five national highways are currently using CSIR’s steel slag technology. She stressed the importance of self-reliance and innovation as pivotal to achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047.”
Fostering Collaboration and Inclusivity
Dr. Singh concluded by emphasizing that facilities like CSIR-IC Mumbai embody the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity.
As reported by yahoo.com, the minister expressed confidence that the centre will catalyze innovation and contribute significantly to India’s journey towards becoming a global technology leader.
