GUWAHATI: Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated IISF 2024, urging collaboration between academia and industry to transform India into a global manufacturing powerhouse. Addressing over 7,000 attendees, including scientists, researchers, and students, Singh highlighted the government’s unwavering support for STEM initiatives.
“Until 2014, the primary grievance from the scientific community was inadequate government backing. That is no longer the case. The government has extended its full support, and now it’s up to the industry and academia to make the most of it,” Singh said.
The event set an ambitious target of $1 trillion in investments for the science and technology-led manufacturing sector by 2025-26.
Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, emphasized the end of siloed work among academia, industry, and research labs. “India has the potential to be a global manufacturing hub. The size of our market ensures any successful product here can succeed anywhere,” she said. Kalaiselvi expressed confidence in achieving the $1 trillion goal, citing strong national and international investment opportunities.
For the first time, IISF is being hosted in the Northeast, underscoring the region’s growing role in India’s scientific and industrial development. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted advancements in bio-manufacturing and sustainability, calling IISF’s presence in Guwahati a testament to science’s unifying power across the country.
A ‘Guwahati Declaration’ was passed on the inaugural day, rallying all scientific and technological institutes to support India’s mission of becoming a global manufacturing leader.
Key Discussions and Initiatives
● Leaders Roundtable: Featured 135 industry leaders and academics from IITs, NITs, and other institutions discussing challenges in India’s manufacturing sector. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, noted, “India’s manufacturing contributes 13 per cent to GDP, compared to China’s 26 per cent. We need innovation, inclusivity, and investment to bridge this gap.”
● Performance-Linked Incentives and Partnerships: Sood and Singh stressed public-private collaborations and initiatives like the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to align research with industry needs.
