Dr Jitendra addresses Hyderabad Expo, underscores innovation, industry linkage for sustainable StartUps

STATE TIMES NEWS

HYDERABAD: In a spirited call for greater linkage between innovation and industry for sustainable StartUps, Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the time has come for Indian science to break silos and integrate the ecosystem with stakeholders including industry, investors, and the public.

Speaking at the 2-day Startup Expo Conclave 2025 jointly organised by CSIR-IICT, CSIR-CCMB, and CSIR-NGRI in Hyderabad, Dr. Jitendra highlighted that India’s moment in science and innovation has arrived.
Addressing a gathering of scientists, entrepreneurs, students, and policymakers, Dr. Singh lauded the rare joint initiative by the three Hyderabad-based CSIR labs, noting that “such an integrated scene of science and governance under one roof” reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of collaborative and inclusive innovation.
The Minister made a strong pitch for dismantling the outdated image of government labs as “ghost-haunted places where frogs are dissected,” narrating how villagers once misunderstood the work of CSIR labs due to lack of public outreach. “Science should not be confined behind gates. If your domain is agriculture, invite the farmers in. Let them see what you’re doing,” he asserted.
Dr Jitendra underlined the need for early and deep industry involvement in research and innovation, pointing to the success of CSIR’s Aroma Mission, where over 3,000 youth, many of them non-graduates, became successful agri-entrepreneurs with minimum annual earnings of ?60 lakh. “That’s the real transformation-a blend of technology, livelihood, and dignity,” he said.
Dr. Jitendra expressed concern over internal compartmentalisation within CSIR and even within his own Ministry. He revealed that he now holds monthly joint meetings of all science departments including Atomic Energy, Space, and Biotechnology, to ensure overlapping initiatives are integrated rather than duplicated. “How can we compete globally if we don’t even know what our neighbouring lab is doing?” he questioned.
The Minister also announced plans to open up the nuclear sector, noting that a new realism has replaced the secrecy that once shrouded scientific endeavours. “When Google can peek into our lives, what’s the point of denying access to potential collaborators in the name of confidentiality?” he asked.
The Minister made a compelling case for realistic, demand-driven innovation. “Let the industry do the mapping. Let them invest from day one. If they put in Rs 20, they’ll make sure your startup doesn’t fail,” he said, encouraging researchers to see industry not just as a customer but as a co-investor.
Dr. Jitendra acknowledged that while the government has significantly increased support-CSIR and DSIR budgets have risen over 230% since 2014-true sustainability lies in self-sufficiency and public-private collaboration. “You can start a startup, but sustaining it is the challenge. Social and economic security must match the aspiration,” he said.
Concluding his address, Dr. Singh emphasised that Hyderabad, with its unique blend of scientific legacy and tech-savvy spirit, is best positioned to lead India’s science-led development agenda. “This is not just about Hyderabad or about CSIR. This is about India stepping out of the shadows and leading the global innovation narrative,” he said.