Self-sustainable science and tech ecosystem with larger participation by private sector need of the hour: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, underlined the need for India to create a self-sustainable science and technology ecosystem with greater participation of the private sector.

Mr. Singh was speaking after inaugurating the finale of the golden jubilee celebrations of CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

He called for “a whole-of-government approach integrated with all of science and whole-of-nation approaches with increased involvement of private actors.”

“As you can see, we have even opened up sectors that were once considered taboo. We have opened up the space sector and this year the Budget has declared the opening up of the nuclear sector as well,” Mr. Singh said.

He said the past few years have seen an increase in interdisciplinary initiatives and interdisciplinary planning because the “age of silos” is over.

The Union Minister observed that the character and strength of NIIST lies in its interdisciplinary agenda.

Praising the founders of NIIST for being futuristic in their vision of establishing an institute of interdisciplinary character, he said NIIST validated its purpose. Mr Singh added that it was now time for the institute to move “to the next level”.

C. Anandharamakrishnan, director of CSIR-NIIST, said that the institute is moving forward with the vision of transforming itself into an ‘International Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology’ in the future.

Vidyut Swasthya

At the event, Mr. Singh introduced ‘Vidyut Swasthya’, a pedal-assisted exercise system that converts human energy into electricity to charge devices.

NIIST has also announced a number of initiatives, including the Golden Jubilee Innovation Centre; ‘ANANDHA’ – Automated Nodal Center for Assembly of Next Generation Dye-Sensitive Lightweight Harvesters, an artificial intelligence and machine learning laboratory; and an eco-restoration project for Padmatheertham Pond in Thiruvananthapuram.

On this occasion, NIIST also transferred technology for aluminum-magnesium-scandium (Al-Mg-Sc) alloys developed by it and exchanged MoUs for sustainable wastewater management in houseboats and smart tyres.

Krishna Ella, chairman of the board of directors of Bharat Biotech, Dipankar Banerjee, Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, BJP Kerala State president and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CSIR-NIIST chief scientist P. Nishy also spoke.