Strong ties between startups and industries will boost the country's innovation: Jitendra Singh's statement

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has called for establishing stronger linkages between startups and industries. He emphasized that the government is playing an important role in facilitating such partnerships, which can help indigenous research transition from the research and development stage to widespread commercial use. According to a PIB report, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, made this important remark.

Dr Jitendra Singh stated that India's expanding innovation ecosystem provides significant opportunities for startups to connect with industries and other potential technology adopters. Through these linkages, they can develop practical applications and scale up their solutions. He urged all stakeholders to effectively utilize these opportunities to strengthen India's innovation-led growth.

Dr Jitendra Singh visited the exhibition of the 'Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave' (ESTIC)-2026, being held from 27 to 29 October at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. This exhibition showcased startups, scientific institutions, and departmental technologies. The conclave features 50 selected deep-tech startups, 13 departmental stalls, and 10 departmental technologies, demonstrating the breadth of India's scientific and technological capabilities.

During the visit, the Minister reviewed various innovations demonstrating how scientific research is addressing challenges across sectors ranging from food and nutrition to advanced electronics. The exhibition showcased CSIR Designer Rice developed by CSIR-NIIST. This rice has approximately 20 percent protein and a glycemic index recorded at 54, placing it in the low-GI category. Developed using rice fractionation and structural modification, this innovation aims to create useful products for a better nutritional diet system.

Showcasing India's growing capability in the industrial sector, JEET (SCMC4212 Microcontroller Unit) developed by Signalchip was also displayed. This microcontroller is powered by a Yati 32-bit RISC-V CPU and an Avarta 32-bit Digital Signal Processor. It integrates memory, power-management, and other functional capabilities into a compact design. Its potential applications include flight controllers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smart appliances, robotics, and industrial automation. Such indigenous technologies can contribute to the development of domestic capabilities in strategic and emerging technology sectors.

Additionally, the exhibition featured bio-based packaging and reusable or application-specific products, showcasing the broad scope of innovation in the fields of materials and sustainability. These exhibits prove that India's scientific institutions and entrepreneurs are working across diverse sectors to develop solutions for practical applications.

Dr Jitendra Singh has consistently advocated for strong coordination among research institutions, startups, industry, and government so that scientific discoveries can be translated into real economic and social benefits. He urged industry leaders, investors, and research institutions to actively engage with startups and build mutually beneficial partnerships. He added that strong collaboration in the innovation ecosystem can accelerate the technology adoption process and help advance the national vision of 'Viksit Bharat@2047'.