BENGALURU, JUN 14 (PTI): Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has said innovation, entrepreneurship and scientific research would play a pivotal role in driving India’s economic growth and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Addressing the Research, Industry, Start-up and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Conclave in Bengaluru on Saturday, Singh said the country was witnessing a transformational shift towards self-reliance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is undergoing a significant shift towards a self-reliant nation, marked by the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’, he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL) said. “The transformation encompasses multifaceted changes across various sectors, aiming to empower the country on both national and global fronts. It’s a citizen-centric, collective movement where Science, Technology and Innovations will play a major role in driving the economic growth,” the Minister said. Singh inaugurated a start-up exhibition at the conclave and said the event had emerged as a major platform bringing together research institutions, industry leaders, start-ups, academia, policymakers and students to collaborate on solutions aligned with the country’s innovation-driven development agenda.
He said the RISE Conclave has showcased over 100 start-ups in the area of aerospace, food technology, data science and AI, exhibiting innovative products, technologies and services wherein young budding entrepreneurs can learn and experience the nitty-gritty of start-ups. The minister also outlined key achievements in the aerospace sector, including the indigenously designed HANSA-3 (NG) trainer aircraft for commercial pilot licensing and the development of a 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft aimed at improving connectivity between Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities.
He said India was also making significant strides in advanced aviation technologies.
“On the futuristic technology front our S&T Ministry is also designing and developing High Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of operating at altitudes above 20 km in the stratosphere. These vehicles, known as High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) or High Altitude Pseudo-satellites (HAPS) when integrated with a payload, are gaining increasing importance for military, civil, and scientific applications,” he said.
Emphasising the strategic significance of the programme, Singh said only a handful of countries had initiated similar efforts.
“India has initiated such a programme to demonstrate a Proof-of-Concept through a technology demonstrator vehicle capable of sustained flight for several hours at an altitude of 20 km, thereby joining a select group of the league of developed countries,” he said.
On Artificial Intelligence, the minister described the technology as “transformative and foundational” to future economic growth.
“Artificial Intelligence is not merely another digital technology; it is rapidly emerging as a foundational technology comparable to electricity, the internet and mobile communications. In this journey, CSIR is playing a strategic role,” Singh said.
Referring to food technology and processing, he said India’s food processing industry was currently valued at around USD 530 billion and was on track to become one of the largest in the world by 2030.
“The import substitution opportunity in food science alone is worth tens of billions of dollars,” he said, while highlighting contributions of institutions such as CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru.
Singh cited breakthroughs including the development of infant food from buffalo milk, standardisation of idli and dosa batter technologies and millet-based innovations that have found acceptance among global food chains.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of ISRO V Narayanan said the Space Vision 2047 roadmap and reforms in the space sector would play a critical role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat.
“The deeper integration of our R&D institutions, Industry and Start ups is the need of the hour towards an economy based on innovation & entrepreneurship,” he said.
The two-day conclave witnessed participation from more than 800 delegates, around 170 start-ups and 75 industries, including MSMEs. Several memoranda of understanding were signed with institutions including IIT Dharwad, IIT Madras, Sathya Sai University, NIVEDI-ICAR and IIM Nagpur to promote joint research, innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, the statement said.
