Ahmedabad: India on Monday strengthened its push towards technology leadership with the launch of the DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence, which the Department of Science and Technology funded with an outlay of about ₹40 crore. Through this initiative, the government aims to accelerate deep science-led and technology-driven growth.
The Centre operates from a newly developed block within the IIM Ahmedabad campus. Importantly, it has been designed as a national hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship, technology translation, and venture creation. As a result, startups will gain direct access to management expertise, scientific guidance, and industry networks within one ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh said India had decisively moved away from incremental growth over the past decade. Instead, the country now focused on deep-tech innovation rooted in fundamental research. Moreover, he stressed that translating science into market-ready solutions remained the key national priority.
“Deep technology is not optional; it is essential for India’s future,” the Minister said. He added that strong management systems must support scientific breakthroughs. Otherwise, even good science may fail to sustain startups in the long run.
The Minister underlined that institutions like IIM Ahmedabad played a crucial role in this transition. Therefore, he said, combining management excellence with technological innovation would ensure sustainable outcomes.
DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence to anchor deep-tech innovation
The DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence spans nearly 59,000 square feet. It includes venture creation labs, collaborative workspaces, training areas, board rooms, and networking zones. Consequently, it will support early-stage startups, deep-tech founders, students, investors, and institutional partners from across the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the democratisation of innovation. Notably, he said nearly half of India’s startups now emerged from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This shift, he explained, resulted from affordable digital access, expanding incubation networks, and supportive policy frameworks.
Referring to India’s global standing, the Minister said the country ranked among the top three startup ecosystems worldwide. In addition, he pointed to growth in patent filings, scientific publications, and resident-led innovation. These gains, he said, reflected sustained investments in scientific capacity building.
During the event, the government also unveiled “Translation Endeavours”, a multi-institutional collaborative platform. Through this initiative, academic institutions, industry, government agencies, and investors will work together. The platform aims to break silos and speed up deep-tech technology translation.
The Minister further said government mechanisms such as the Research, Development and Innovation Fund and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation would provide patient and risk-tolerant support. As a result, deep-tech startups would gain the stability needed to scale responsibly.
Concluding his address, Dr Jitendra Singh urged researchers, students, investors, and industry leaders to collaborate closely. He said India’s innovation future depended not only on ideas, but also on integrity, persistence, and effective translation of science into societal impact.
