Ahmedabad: NITI Aayog organised a two-day national workshop on grassroots innovation at Science City in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on May 19 and 20 in collaboration with the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation-India.
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh attended the event as the chief guest. He stressed the need to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem by recognising and supporting community-based innovators.
The Minister said grassroots innovators reflected the spirit of self-reliance and local problem-solving. Moreover, he stated that India’s progress towards Viksit Bharat@2047 required stronger integration of community-driven innovation into national development planning.
Gujarat Science and Technology Minister Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhwadia attended the workshop as the guest of honour. He highlighted Gujarat’s focus on entrepreneurship, decentralised development and innovation support systems.
Former NITI Aayog member Dr. V. K. Saraswat said India should integrate local knowledge systems and region-specific solutions into mainstream development models. In addition, former DST secretary Prof. Ashutosh Sharma stressed the importance of linking science and technology with local societal needs.
Grassroots innovation discussions focus on local solutions
National Innovation Foundation chairperson Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe called for stronger institutional support for grassroots innovators through scientific validation, incubation and market access.
Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh said India’s innovation ecosystem included startups, public research institutions, industries and community innovators. He added that collaboration among these sectors remained essential.
The workshop featured several thematic sessions on policy support, innovation ecosystems and community-led initiatives. Participants also discussed financing systems, incubation mechanisms and technology diffusion models for local innovators.
Grassroots innovators from different states shared their experiences during interactive sessions. They showcased innovations related to earthen products, banana fibre products, food processing technologies and rural machinery.
The discussions highlighted the importance of frugal innovation and locally developed solutions for region-specific challenges. Organisers said stronger grassroots innovation systems would support inclusive and sustainable development across the country.
