India’s science and technology ecosystem is evolving rapidly, driven by a stronger focus on research, innovation, and emerging technologies. Policy reforms, industry collaboration, and technology-led initiatives are helping create an environment that supports scientific advancement and accelerates innovation across sectors. Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, Government of India, shares his insights in an exclusive interaction with Ritika Shrivastava and Sahaj Anand of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:
India is accelerating its journey towards becoming a global innovation leader. What are the key priorities that will shape the country’s science and technology ecosystem in the coming years?
The first is improving the translation of research into real-world impact. India produces a significant number of scientific publications and patents, but much of this research does not reach the market or public services. Slow institutional approvals, unclear intellectual property frameworks, and limited industry linkages remain key challenges. Through our Ease of Doing R&D initiative and benchmarking of R&D laboratories, we aim to make the journey from laboratory research to market-ready technology faster and more efficient.
The second priority is sustaining India’s innovation momentum while ensuring that progress is broad-based. India’s rise from 81st to 38th in the Global Innovation Index reflects significant progress. The India Innovation Index helps monitor innovation performance across states, ensuring that growth is inclusive rather than concentrated in a few regions.
The third priority is strengthening State Science & Technology Councils. These institutions need stronger mandates, better funding and closer integration with national programmes so they can effectively connect research institutions, universities and industry. Innovation cannot be driven by the Centre alone; empowered state institutions are equally essential.
Together, these priorities will strengthen India’s research ecosystem, accelerate technology commercialisation and sustain long-term innovation-led growth.
How is NITI Aayog fostering collaboration between government, academia, industry, and startups to strengthen India’s research and innovation landscape?
NITI Aayog primarily serves as a convener, bringing together stakeholders who have traditionally worked in silos and creating policy frameworks that encourage collaboration.
Within government, we are improving coordination among science and technology departments through the Unified Project Management System (UPMS), which enhances transparency, resource allocation and project monitoring.
To strengthen academia-industry partnerships, we have introduced the University-Industry-Government (UIG) collaboration initiative. It promotes researcher mobility, co-creation, technology commercialisation, shared research infrastructure and greater private-sector participation in R&D.
These efforts complement our Ease of Doing R&D initiative, which addresses regulatory and procedural bottlenecks through the ROPE (Removing Obstacles and Promoting Enablers) framework.
Whether through UPMS, UIG or Ease of Doing R&D, our objective remains the same—to convert India’s research strengths into faster, more collaborative and globally competitive innovation outcomes.
With technologies such as AI, quantum computing, semiconductors, and biotechnology advancing rapidly, which sectors do you believe will drive India’s next wave of technological growth?
Each of these technologies is important individually, but their greatest strength lies in how they complement one another.
Artificial Intelligence is emerging as the connective layer across advanced technologies. India has strong advantages in digital public infrastructure, technical talent and data. The next step is translating these strengths into practical, India-specific AI applications.
Semiconductors form the foundation of modern technology. Through the India Semiconductor Mission, India is building domestic design, fabrication and packaging capabilities, reducing dependence on imports. Biotechnology presents significant opportunities in healthcare, agriculture and industrial applications. The focus now is on advancing genomics, precision medicine and biomanufacturing.
Quantum computing is still in its early stages, but sustained investment through the National Quantum Mission is essential to build long-term capabilities.
Ultimately, India’s technological future will depend on how these sectors work together. AI-powered semiconductor design, AI-driven biotechnology and quantum-enabled computing demonstrate that integrated development, supported by the right policies and institutional collaboration, will drive the country’s next wave of innovation.
Innovation is increasingly becoming state-driven. What steps can states like Uttar Pradesh take to create a thriving ecosystem for research, deep-tech startups, and technology-led development?
The first is strengthening State Science & Technology Councils. In many states, including Uttar Pradesh, these institutions remain under-resourced and disconnected from local research priorities. With stronger mandates, adequate funding and greater decision-making authority, they can effectively bring together universities, R&D institutions and industry to drive innovation.
The second is investing in the research capacity of state universities. Uttar Pradesh has one of the country’s largest university networks, but it must also create opportunities that retain talented researchers through stronger industry linkages and a supportive research ecosystem.
Third, deep-tech startups require more than funding. They need shared research infrastructure, industry partnerships and patient capital. Government procurement can also play a vital role by validating innovative technologies in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and urban development.
Finally, states should build on their existing strengths. Uttar Pradesh already has a strong defence corridor, a growing electronics manufacturing ecosystem and a robust agricultural base. Focusing on these sectors can create a globally competitive innovation ecosystem rather than adopting a generic innovation strategy.
What policy reforms or strategic interventions are needed to accelerate research commercialisation and encourage greater industry participation in India’s innovation ecosystem?
India does not have a shortage of research; it has a challenge in translating research into innovation. Every year, promising research emerges from laboratories, but much of it never reaches industry.
The first priority is removing procedural bottlenecks such as unclear intellectual property frameworks, lengthy approvals and cumbersome procurement processes. Our Ease of Doing R&D initiative aims to simplify these barriers.
The second is strengthening the innovation ecosystem through pilot-scale facilities, shared research infrastructure and structured pathways that help technologies move from proof-of-concept to commercialisation.
The third is creating better incentives. Researchers should receive greater recognition for patents, technology transfer and commercialisation, while industry needs stronger incentives to collaborate with domestic research institutions instead of relying on imported technologies.
Also Read | Technology With Purpose: The Vision Behind Uttar Pradesh’s Digital Transformation
These reforms must work together to create a seamless pathway from research to market.
What opportunities do you see for India’s young researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs in contributing to the country’s vision of becoming a global science and technology powerhouse?
The opportunity today is fundamentally different from what existed a generation ago. Earlier, talented young researchers often had only two choices: join a handful of premier institutions or leave the country to pursue advanced research. That is no longer the case.
Institutions such as the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) have created strong research pathways linked to India’s national laboratories. At the same time, increasing investment in state universities is expanding opportunities where the majority of India’s research talent actually resides.
For entrepreneurs and innovators, the opportunity lies in timing. India is making significant investments in frontier technologies while the ecosystem is still evolving. Funding models, government demand and regulatory frameworks are being established, creating a rare opportunity for young innovators to shape these sectors rather than simply compete within mature markets.
This is already evident in startups emerging from India’s research institutions. Companies such as Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos have demonstrated that private Indian startups can develop and launch indigenous rockets, while InCore Semiconductors is designing homegrown chips based on the RISC-V architecture. These companies are helping define entirely new technology sectors in India.
If I had to summarise the opportunity in one sentence, it would be this: for the first time in many years, young Indian talent no longer has to choose between doing world-class scientific work and doing it from India. Those who seize this moment will play a defining role in shaping India’s innovation ecosystem over the coming decade.