New Delhi, December 5, 2025 — The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India hosted the first International Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters Conference (ISTCC) from 4–5 December 2025, at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under the theme “Making Lives Easier Through S&T.”
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, alongside Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, OPSA; Prof. Sir John Edmunds, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK; and Dr Vishal Choudhary, Scientist ‘F’, OPSA.
Quadruple Helix Model at the Core of India’s Cluster Strategy
In her welcome remarks, Dr Parvinder Maini highlighted the success of India’s Quadruple Helix model—bringing together academia, industry, government, and startups—that guides the functioning of the country’s eight S&T Clusters.
She noted that the Clusters are now driving:
-
Sustainable innovation
-
Translational research
-
Region-specific problem solving
-
Stronger industry–academia partnerships
The session reinforced India’s growing role in building mission-driven collaborative ecosystems.
PSA Prof. Sood: Clusters Have Moved Beyond Concept to Delivery
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood commended the Cluster model for breaking silos and enabling collaboration across diverse sectors. He emphasised that:
-
ISTCC provides a global platform to exchange ideas and scalable solutions
-
India’s science and innovation network has entered a new phase of global cooperation
-
Clusters are now instruments of solution delivery rather than conceptual pilots
Prof. Sood also stressed the growing importance of technology sovereignty, particularly in areas like UAVs, clean energy and circular economy solutions.
Global Voices Highlight India’s Strengths and International Partnerships
Speaking about India–UK scientific ties, Prof. Sir John Edmunds highlighted India’s strengths in vaccine manufacturing, biotechnology, and software, which make it a valuable global partner.
Dr Vishal Choudhary presented a detailed overview of achievements from all eight Clusters—including field-ready technologies in agriculture, water, waste management, and environmental sustainability.
The conference saw participation from more than 30 countries, with ambassadors, diplomats, senior government officials, policymakers, CEOs, and global S&T leaders in attendance.
Notable speakers included:
-
H.E. Juan Antonio March, Ambassador of Spain to India
-
H.E. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India
Release of Four Compendiums Showcasing Cluster Innovations
During the inaugural session, four major compendiums were released, capturing the work of S&T Clusters in:
-
Water technologies
-
Agri-tech solutions
-
Solid waste management
-
Kalanubhaav – cultural and creative technologies
These documents highlight measurable societal impact emerging from cluster-driven innovation.
The latest issue of Vigyan Dhara, themed “Advancing India’s Technology Sovereignty in UAVs”, was also released.
ISTCC Exhibition Showcases 42 Scalable, Impactful Technologies
PSA Prof. Sood also inaugurated a 42-stall exhibition featuring transformative innovations developed by the S&T Clusters across six thematic areas:
-
Smart agriculture
-
Healthcare
-
Environmental sustainability
-
Industry automation & startups
-
Plastic & e-waste management
-
Technologies enabling livelihoods
Solutions from international partners and RuTAG were also part of the showcase, highlighting India’s expanding innovation landscape.
Panel Discussions, Roundtables and Global Dialogues
Over two days, the conference conducted sessions across the six thematic areas, with:
-
Global experts
-
Cluster leaders
-
Industry innovators
-
Policy strategists
Closed-door roundtable discussions with global S&T leaders further explored collaboration models, joint challenges, and partnership structures.
Valedictory Session: 12 MoUs Signed, CHEM AMAZE Platform Unveiled
The conference’s valedictory session marked a major milestone with the signing of 12 MoUs between the eight S&T Clusters and national as well as international stakeholders.
These partnerships will drive progress in:
-
Clean and renewable energy
-
Environmental sustainability & circular economy
-
Advanced technologies and Industry 4.0
-
Agriculture and bio-innovation
-
Healthcare and life sciences
The session also witnessed the unveiling of CHEM AMAZE, a gamified learning platform designed to promote science education.
Dr Parvinder Maini highlighted the need to scale cluster-led innovations across ministries, states, and global partners.
ISTCC Sets the Roadmap for Next Phase of India’s S&T Clusters
In his concluding remarks, PSA Prof. Sood emphasized that India’s S&T Clusters are transitioning into national technology accelerators, enabling deployment of solutions in critical areas such as:
-
Water resource management
-
Climate resilience
-
Agriculture and food systems
-
Sustainable waste management
The next phase will focus on:
-
Joint international challenge calls
-
Shared platforms and researcher exchanges
-
Integration of innovations into governance systems
-
Widescale adoption through public programmes
About the S&T Clusters Initiative
The S&T Clusters initiative is a flagship programme of OPSA, conceptualised on the recommendation of the PM-STIAC (Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council).
Eight Clusters currently operate across:
-
Bengaluru
-
Bhubaneswar
-
Delhi
-
Hyderabad
-
Jodhpur
-
Northern Region (J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh)
-
Pune
-
Visakhapatnam
Together, they form a national ecosystem accelerating innovation and translating research into societal impact.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
