NEW DELHI: While chairing the Joint Ministerial meeting of the Secretaries of all the Science Ministries and Departments of the Government, 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 called for aligning all the Government departments as well as the Centre and State efforts with a “whole of Government” and “whole of Science” approach to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to transform India into “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
The Minister urged the respective State Scientific Councils to take an active role in advancing scientific initiatives during the Monthly Meeting of Science Secretaries held here today. Highlighting the importance of cooperative federalism in science, Dr. Jitendra Singh stressed the need to integrate all the stakeholders to create a sustainable and progressive ecosystem.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the vital role of State Scientific Councils in fostering innovation, advancing regional development, and contributing to national goals. He called on states to act as catalysts for cultivating a scientific temperament, promoting grassroots innovation, and leveraging local expertise to address unique challenges.
Central to the discussions was the importance of market capitalization for innovations emerging from India’s scientific agencies. Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the need to scale and market cutting-edge solutions from Government-backed institutions to attract investment and address pressing issues in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and climate resilience. “Scientific innovation must not remain confined to laboratories. It should translate into impactful, market-ready solutions that empower industries and improve lives,” he stated.
He cited examples of successful Government-supported innovations, encouraging departments to use these stories as models to inspire trust and investment from private stakeholders. By effectively marketing technologies, India could establish itself as a global leader in innovation and technology-led solutions.
Dr. Jitendra Singh advocated for frameworks that enable public-private collaboration to fast-track the commercialization of lab-scale breakthroughs. He stressed that such partnerships are essential for bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, ensuring that innovations are accessible, scalable, and impactful.
He reiterated the need for cooperative federalism in the science ecosystem, urging states to align with central initiatives to create a unified scientific framework. This approach, he noted, would foster regional growth, build scientific temper, and ensure equitable access to the benefits of technological advancements across the country. “State Scientific Councils must rise to the occasion and play their part in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. By working together, we can harness the full potential of our scientific resources to transform India into a developed nation by 2047,” Dr. Jitendra Singh added.
The team of senior Secretaries and officers was led by Principal Scientific Advisor to the Govt of India, Prof Ajay Sood. (Excelsior)
