NITI Aayog

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh

Climate Environment and Science, India, News, science and technology 12 May 2022

S&T Minister calls for greater connect between industry and academia

New Delhi, May 12: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science & Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State PMO, and Minister of State Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances, Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday laid stress on building sustainable start-ups with indigenous innovations. Speaking at the inaugural event of “Iconic 75 Industry Connect (‘i’ Connect)” at Jorhat, Assam, he said, the innovative start-ups by the young entrepreneurs must shoulder the responsibility for India’s ascent in the next 25 years, when the country will celebrate 100 years of its Independence as a frontline nation in the world. The industry connects programme aims to explore globally benchmarked technologies and products for making the country self-sustaining and self-generating. While the research establishments in the country are well equipped to develop world-class technologies and products in laboratories, there is a gap in taking these to the market and ultimately to the society, said Dr Jitendra Singh. Noting that research and industry share a reciprocal relationship to thrive and grow, the Union Minister urged the industry to have an equal stake in R&D through meaningful investment to make and take world-class products from laboratories to market. He also underlined the need for brand building of the products to carve a niche in Indian and world markets. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Government-Industry Connect, Dr Jitendra Singh said, that the iconic 75 Industry Connect (‘i’-connect) events aim to forge partnerships with industry in 10 thematic /focus areas. It is a consolidated effort of DSIR/CSIR, DBT, DST, MoES, and other scientific departments of the Government of India to reach out to the industry. Coming together of several scientific departments for the cause of science is a phenomenon seldom seen before, and team spirit is the key mantra of the Government, the Minister added. Dr Jitendra Singh said the reason to start the series of industry i-Connect from Jorhat in Assam stems from the Prime Minister’s high priority for developing the North-Eastern Region. He reminded that in 2014 itself, Modi had made it clear that the Government’s priority was to…

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh

Climate Environment and Science, India, News 29 April 2022

Innovations key to five trillion economy- Dr Jitendra Singh

Celebrating 75 years of India’s Innovation Journey New Delhi, April 29: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has emphasised the need for the industry to have a stake to ensure sustainable startups. Addressing the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) organised by NITI Aayog here titled, “Celebrating 75 years of India’s Innovation Journey”, he noted that Atal Innovation Mission has ignited the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in schools and colleges thus motivating them to become confident self-employers. The Mission through its various programmes has been supporting more than 2,200 startups in all the major fields of innovation like health-tech, fin-tech, agri-tech, AI-ML, IoT and other sectors of public importance. He said India’s greatest asset is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who not only has a natural predilection for science but is also forthcoming in supporting and promoting science and technology-based initiatives and projects. India’s scientific prowess is going to have a major role in the making of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat ”, he added. The Minister pointed out that starting from inculcating an innovative mindset in school children through Atal Tinkering Labs, to supporting startups and innovators through its programmes like Atal Incubation Centres, Atal Community Innovation Centres and ANIC challenges, AIM has been transforming the innovation and entrepreneurship landscape in the country holistically and comprehensively. The Mission, which recently completed its 6th year since inception, is complementary to the government’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Prayas”. Apart from referring to the Mentorship programme of DST, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Atal Tinkering Lab with the mantra of “Catch them Young” needs further development and wider reach to capture grassroots innovation. He recalled that in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 106th Indian Science Congress emphasised the importance of research by adding “Jai Anusandhan” to the famous slogan “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan, Jai Vigyan”. Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that in the past few years, India has covered an appreciable distance in the…