Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Space and Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also the Vice President of CSIR, inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind CSIR Mega “Innovation Complex” in Mumbai on 17 January 2025 virtually. He dedicated this complex to startups and industry stakeholders.
Dr Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his vision enabling India to emerge as a global hub for start-ups and innovation. He said the inauguration of this complex is another landmark step.
Lauding CSIR, the Minister said that CSIR has been playing a significant role in the scientific and technological progress of the country by addressing national needs through its innovative research, industrial and societal partnerships, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and policy formulation.
Dr Singh remarked that CSIR-IC Mumbai is a state-of-the-art innovation-cum-incubation facility with high-end scientific infrastructure and expertise designed to foster critical translational unmet needs (lab-to-regulator and regulator-to-industry domains) for start-ups, MSMEs and CSIR labs and to catalyse faster tech-transfer.
Dr Singh expressed his confidence that the IC-Mumbai will be used to strengthen the business development and tech-transfer activities of CSIR labs, leveraging the unique opportunities offered by Mumbai. This will serve as a hub for the other incubators operating within the CSIR Labs. The IC Mumbai, which is spread over nine floors, is equipped with 24 “ready-to-move” incubation labs and furnished office/networking spaces for innovative start-ups, MSMEs, industry, and CSIR labs. He underscored that facilities like these embody the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity that define our approach to nation-building.
To promote innovation, industry collaboration and employment generation, the six memoranda of association were signed between CSIR and six prestigious institutes such as IIT Bombay, iCreate, NRDC, etc. Additionally, fifty technology transfers took place from CSIR institutes to startups, MSMEs, and other institutions to strengthen startups.
During her address, Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary DSIR and DG CSIR, shared that not just in India but CSIR is collaborating internationally with four countries, namely Germany, Norway, Switzerland, etc. She called it the shaping of a decadal dream into reality. Crediting her predecessors, she remarked on the Purple Revolution as a novel, reflecting dedication towards Indigenous technologies.
Dr Kalaiselvi informed that 10-15 technologies are developed by CSIR every year, which are globally appreciated. She informed that five national highways are currently using steel slag technology developed by CSIR.
Referring to India’s indigenisation process, she recalled the development of India’s indigenous Paracetamol. Another development is the zero liquid discharge plant, which is the first of its kind in India. She emphasised ‘Aatmanirbhar’ and ‘self-reliance’ as the way forward for making India Viksit Bharat @2047.
Dr VK Paul, a NITI Aayog member, recalled the CSIR team's untiring efforts during the pandemic. He termed them as COVID warriors. He categorically mentioned CSIR for developing a CRISPR diagnostic test — the first in the World. Developing Oxygen concentrators and sending them to every remote corner of the country.
Dr VK Saraswat, a member of NITI Aayog, advised taking innovation to industry rather than calling industry to innovation. He said we develop everything in a cost-effective manner, and we should leverage this to our advantage.
Dr Ram Vishwakarma, who has the lion’s share in bringing this complex into reality, informed us that the complex houses 24 labs of 500 sq. ft each, 24 office spaces for startups, and six conference rooms and lounges. The inaugural event witnessed participation from industry leaders, foreign delegates from Norway, Switzerland, and Germany, MSMEs, start-ups, and over 1,000 scientists from CSIR labs across India.
----------------------------------
Adapted from PIB
