How can research move faster from laboratories to industry? New facilities and research clusters at IIT Gandhinagar aim to strengthen innovation across sectors.
Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, inaugurated a Department of Science and Technology (DST)-funded Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) and three new research clusters at IIT Gandhinagar on 11 June 2026.
These new units are aimed at strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem and accelerating the translation of research into industrial applications, according to DST.
The newly launched clusters: the Advanced Materials Research Cluster (AMRC), Energy Research Cluster (ERC), and Healthcare & MedTech Research Cluster (HMRC), are designed to support the development, validation and transfer of technologies addressing national priorities. Nearly 70 industries have joined as founding partners, signalling growing collaboration between academia and industry.
Speaking at the event, Dr Singh stressed that scientific research should deliver measurable societal and economic outcomes rather than remain limited to academic publications.
He said India requires stronger mechanisms to move innovations from laboratories to commercial deployment through coordinated efforts involving researchers, industry and government.
A key focus of the initiative is the expansion of shared research infrastructure. The Central Instrumentation Facility will provide researchers, startups and industry access to advanced scientific equipment that may otherwise be difficult for individual institutions to establish independently.
According to the Minister, such infrastructure will support strategic sectors, including India’s semiconductor and broader electronics manufacturing ecosystem.
Dr Singh said India’s challenges in materials self-reliance, clean energy and technology development require a translational research approach that extends beyond discovery to pilot projects, validation and commercialisation.
The Minister also highlighted national initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the National Quantum Mission and the IndiaAI Mission, which are intended to expand research opportunities and strengthen participation in emerging technology domains.
During his visit, Dr Singh reviewed technology demonstrations at the IIT Gandhinagar Research Park, which hosts more than 20 companies and supports over 30 startups. He called for industry involvement from the earliest stages of research to improve technology transfer and market adoption.
The Minister said shared infrastructure, industry-linked innovation and interdisciplinary research would play an important role in strengthening India’s technological capabilities and supporting the country’s long-term development goals.
