NEW DELHI, December 5, 2025 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh, said today that in the current global scenario, industry–academia partnerships are no longer by choice but a necessity for growth. He called for deeper and sustained collaboration between industry, academia, and government to position India as a global research and innovation hub.
Speaking at the Global Summit on Industry–Academia Partnership 2025, themed “Catalysing India’s Rise as an R&D Powerhouse: Forging Partnerships, Driving Excellence,” organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Dr. Singh highlighted a shift in India’s approach to research and innovation, noting increased openness to collaboration and greater participation from private players in strategic sectors. Rising patent filings and contributions from young innovators in smaller cities are clear indicators of this change.
He observed that recent decisions allowing broader non-government involvement in traditionally government-dominated areas like space and nuclear research reflect growing confidence in collaborative models. Expanding private sector participation, he said, will be key to accelerating innovation-led growth.
Dr. Singh emphasized benchmarking India’s research strategies with global institutions that leverage non-government resources. He underlined the government’s evolving role as a facilitator, enabling industry, academia, and startups to collaborate in priority science and technology domains. Initiatives like the National Research Foundation and new research funding mechanisms aim to stimulate private investment and build long-term research linkages, with the expectation that industry will become a major contributor to national research output and economic growth.
Highlighting the aspirations of youth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, Dr. Singh noted that access to information and digital platforms has made them active participants in India’s innovation journey, as reflected in growing domestic patent filings. Platforms like InSpace and similar biotech interfaces help structure collaborations, ensuring transparency and bringing academic research closer to industrial application.
Dr. Singh also released the CII Industry–Academia Partnership Compendium 2025 and visited an exhibition showcasing technologies developed by startups, research institutions, and academic bodies. Concluding his remarks, he stressed that India’s scientific growth depends on long-term partnerships across research institutions, industry, startups, and government, urging broader participation, stronger linkages, and shared ownership of research outcomes to achieve national goals in emerging technologies and strategic sectors.
