By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : June 12, 2026 9:27 am
Union Minister inaugurated a DST-funded Central Instrumentation Facility and three new research clusters focused on advanced materials, clean energy, and healthcare at IIT Gandhinagar
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, emphasized that the true value of scientific research lies not merely in academic publications but in its ability to generate tangible societal and economic impact.
Addressing the programme "Advancing Research & Innovation Towards Viksit Bharat with the Inauguration of Major Research Initiatives" at IIT Gandhinagar, Dr. Singh said India needs a robust innovation ecosystem where discoveries move seamlessly from laboratories to real-world deployment through close collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
"Science must deliver impact beyond research papers. The real success of scientific research lies in its ability to solve societal challenges, create economic value, and improve lives," he said.
During the event, the Minister inaugurated the Department of Science & Technology (DST)-funded Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) and launched three new research clusters at IIT Gandhinagar — the Advanced Materials Research Cluster (AMRC), Energy Research Cluster (ERC), and Healthcare & MedTech Research Cluster (HMRC).
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Dr. Singh noted that nearly 70 industries have come forward as founding partners, reflecting growing confidence in industry-academia collaboration and translational research.
He said India's challenges in areas such as materials self-reliance, clean energy, and affordable healthcare require sustained efforts that go beyond scientific publications. According to him, the newly launched clusters embody a translational research model where scientific discoveries are carried through pilot development, validation, and technology transfer to create deployable solutions.
Dr. Singh also highlighted the government's efforts to democratize research opportunities and funding through initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). He said the initiative is designed to extend financial and technical support beyond traditional centres of excellence and encourage participation from a broader spectrum of institutions.