As Gujarat strengthens its position in semiconductors, biotechnology, digital governance and emerging technologies, the Department of Science & Technology is driving the State’s innovation agenda. Smt. Ponugumatla Bharathi, IAS, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, in an exclusive interaction with Hemangini Kant Rajput and Elma Fatima of Elets News Network (ENN), discusses the State’s priorities, the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2026–31, and the initiatives shaping Gujarat’s technology-led growth.
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Q1. As Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, how do you view the Department’s role in driving Gujarat’s transition to a technology- and innovation-led economy?
Science and technology today underpin industrial competitiveness, public-service delivery, healthcare, agriculture and sustainability, and the Department of Science & Technology is the nodal department steering this agenda for Gujarat. Our mandate is broad and deliberately integrated. It spans information technology and IT-enabled services, Global Capability Centres, semiconductors and electronics, biotechnology, space and emerging technologies, and the State’s digital-governance backbone.
We deliver this mandate through a dedicated institutional framework. The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) anchors research promotion and the science ecosystem; the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM), the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre and Gujarat Biotechnology University drive life-sciences research; Gujarat Science City advances science outreach; and the Directorate of ICT & e-Governance, together with Gujarat Informatics Limited, leads the State’s digital infrastructure and governance platforms. The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) supports earthquake monitoring, seismic research and disaster resilience initiatives, while emerging initiatives such as NAMO Earth Science University are strengthening Gujarat’s Earth Sciences ecosystem. Our objective is to strengthen the entire innovation value chain, from research and talent development to technology commercialization and industry adoption, so that scientific capability translates into investment, jobs and competitiveness.
The Department is significantly driving Gujarat’s transition towards AI-led governance, semiconductor manufacturing, digital public infrastructure, data centre ecosystem development and future technology adoption as key pillars of Viksit Gujarat.
Q2. Gujarat recently unveiled the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy 2026–31. What does it seek to achieve, and what are its principal pillars?
The STI Policy 2026–31, announced in early 2026, is the framework that will guide the State’s science and innovation agenda over the next five years. Its ambition is to position Gujarat among the world’s leading innovation-driven economies by making research, technology and intellectual property central to industrial and societal development. The policy also promotes translational research, industry-led innovation and commercialization of research outcomes through dedicated innovation and incubation support mechanisms.
The policy is anchored by a few clear commitments. It establishes a dedicated Innovation Fund of around 1,000 crore rupees to support research and start-ups; it sets a target of developing one lakh highly skilled research professionals by 2031; and it aims for 1,000 intellectual-property filings every year, including at least 500 patents and 100 international filings, supported by a network of more than 200 IP Facilitation Centres. Crucially, the policy proposes five regional Science and Technology clusters- Ahmedabad–Gandhinagar, Vadodara–Surat, Rajkot–Bhavnagar, Junagadh–Jamnagar and Kachchh- to deepen collaboration between academia, industry and government. The Vadodara–Surat cluster is directly relevant to Central Gujarat and to the discussions at this conference. The policy prioritises artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnology, clean energy and space, while also supporting technology upgradation in the State’s established sectors such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, ceramics and engineering.
Q3. Gujarat has emerged as India’s semiconductor gateway. What is the Department’s role in building this ecosystem, and how does it create broader industrial opportunity?
Gujarat was the first State in India to announce a dedicated Semiconductor Policy, and that early commitment has translated into landmark investments. Tata Electronics is establishing a semiconductor fabrication facility at Dholera, and Micron Technology is setting up its assembly, testing, marking and packaging facility at Sanand. Together with the Gujarat Electronics Policy, these initiatives are anchoring a complete semiconductor and electronics value chain in the State.
The Department’s role extends well beyond attracting fabrication units. Building a semiconductor ecosystem requires a deep talent pipeline, research and design capability, and a reliable base of component, materials and equipment suppliers. We are working to align our universities and research institutions with industry requirements, to support skilling in chip design, manufacturing and packaging, and to encourage the supplier and services ecosystem that surrounds these large anchor projects. For investors, this means Gujarat offers not just incentives but a maturing ecosystem in which a semiconductor or electronics investment can scale.
Q4. Beyond hardware, Gujarat is positioning itself in IT/ITeS, Global Capability Centres and digital governance. How is the Department advancing the digital economy?
The digital economy is one of the most important pillars of Gujarat’s growth strategy. Through the Directorate of ICT & e-Governance and Gujarat Informatics Limited, the Department has built a strong digital governance foundation and is now focusing on creating a future-ready digital economy driven by Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure, cloud technologies and data infrastructure.
On the governance side, we recently launched the Sugam Digital Gujarat Initiative, under which 20 high-volume citizen services were re-engineered with major reforms such as Common Application Forms, DigiLocker integration, Aadhaar-based verification, eSign, QR-enabled certificates and WhatsApp-based service delivery. We have also developed the Government Smart AI Assisted Retrieval (GSAAR) platform, enabling intelligent search across more than 30,000 Government documents, circulars and notifications.
The Department has conceptualized the Gujarat Unified Digital Stack (GUDS), a next-generation digital governance architecture that will enable interoperable, citizen-centric and AI-ready public services. We have also initiated the Family ID Project to create Golden Records of citizens and families, enabling proactive and targeted delivery of Government schemes and services.
In the area of Artificial Intelligence, Gujarat has established the AI Centre of Excellence, launched AI Innovation Challenges for startups, and developed reusable AI Stack use cases to support AI adoption across Government Departments. We are also promoting AI infrastructure and advanced computing capabilities to support future governance and innovation needs.
From an industry perspective, we are actively promoting IT/ITeS investments, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), cloud infrastructure and hyperscale data centres. The state is receiving high investment in establishing a Hyperscale Data Center. Combined with Gujarat’s strong infrastructure, connectivity and talent ecosystem, these initiatives position the State as a leading destination for digital and knowledge-driven enterprises.
GIFT City has emerged as a significant hub for fintech, IT and global business services, complementing the technology corridors in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Vadodara. Looking ahead, our emphasis is on next-generation areas- artificial intelligence, data and cloud infrastructure, and quantum technologies — and on ensuring that the talent, connectivity and regulatory environment are in place for these to grow. The aim is to make Gujarat not only a manufacturing destination but a destination for digital and knowledge-intensive enterprise.
Q5. Biotechnology is a long-standing strength for Gujarat. How is the Department building the State’s life-sciences and biotechnology research ecosystem?
Gujarat has developed one of India’s strongest biotechnology ecosystems through sustained investments in research institutions, talent development and industry support. The Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre and Gujarat Biotechnology University form the backbone of our biotechnology ecosystem.
Our focus areas include genomics, precision medicine, diagnostics, bio-manufacturing, agricultural biotechnology, marine biotechnology and industrial biotechnology. To further strengthen the sector, the Department has initiated the establishment of the BioE3 Cell and the Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor, which will create new opportunities for research, innovation and industry collaboration.
The State also offers dedicated biotechnology infrastructure, including biotechnology parks, incubation facilities and research institutions that support the journey from laboratory research to commercial deployment. Given Gujarat’s strong pharmaceutical and life sciences industry base, we see significant opportunities for biotechnology-led innovation, manufacturing and exports in the coming years.
Q6. Translating research into commercial outcomes remains a national challenge. How is the Department strengthening innovation, R&D and industry–academia linkages?
This is precisely the gap the STI Policy is designed to address. The Innovation Fund, the IP Facilitation Centres and the regional Science and Technology clusters are all aimed at moving promising research out of the laboratory and towards commercialisation. GUJCOST supports research grants, science communication and innovation programmes, and we are placing growing emphasis on technology transfer, intellectual-property creation and start-up financing.
We have also strengthened Gujarat’s innovation ecosystem through initiatives such as the AI Centre of Excellence, the India AI Research Organization (IAIRO), startup incubation programs and AI Innovation Challenges. These initiatives provide researchers, startups and innovators with opportunities to develop proofs of concept and transform ideas into commercially viable solutions.
Gujarat also benefits from the presence of premier national research institutions located in the State, including ISRO’s Space Applications Centre and the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, as well as strong academic institutions such as IIT Gandhinagar and Pandit Deendayal Energy University. While these institutions operate under their own mandates, they are valuable collaborators for the State’s innovation ecosystem. Our role is to convene industry, academia, and these research bodies around shared priorities, so that the State’s broad base of more than 14,000 recognised start-ups can connect with research, mentorship, markets and capital.
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Q7. What outcomes do you hope a platform such as VGRC will help the Department achieve, and what is your message to investors?
Our primary expectation is stronger linkages between research institutions, start-ups, industry and investors. Many promising technologies require industry partnerships, funding and market access before they can scale, and a platform such as the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference helps create those connections. We would also like to see greater visibility for Gujarat’s innovation infrastructure — our research institutions, policy framework and the investments already anchored in semiconductors, biotechnology and the digital economy.
We would welcome the identification of concrete collaborative projects in areas such as semiconductors, biotechnology, climate technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, along with deeper engagement on skilling and workforce readiness, which will be critical as these sectors expand. My message to investors is that Gujarat offers a complete environment for technology-led enterprise: a clear policy direction through the STI Policy 2026–31, dedicated research and innovation institutions, anchor investments that are already reshaping the ecosystem, and a Government that is committed to ensuring that science, technology, and industry continue to reinforce one another.