Kolkata: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, has called for expanding India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem beyond metropolitan centres and strengthening the link between science, startups and industry to accelerate the journey of indigenous technologies from laboratories to the marketplace.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 6th RISE (Research, Industry, StartUp, Entrepreneurship) Conclave 2026 in Kolkata, Dr Jitendra Singh said there is a need to recognise the growing innovation potential of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. He noted that more than 50–60 per cent of India’s startups are based outside metropolitan cities, with young innovators from smaller cities increasingly matching and, in several cases, surpassing their counterparts in major technology hubs.
He said scientific institutions and innovation networks must reach out to innovators in smaller cities instead of expecting them to travel to established technology centres.
The Minister said the RISE Conclave provides an important platform by bringing startups, industry representatives, mentors, researchers and government representatives together. Such convergence, he said, is essential to ensure that scientific research moves beyond laboratories towards entrepreneurship, technology transfer, commercialisation and wider societal applications.
Kolkata’s Scientific Legacy
Dr Jitendra Singh said Kolkata was chosen as the venue for the conclave because of the city’s historic contribution to India’s scientific and academic development. Recalling Bengal’s tradition of scientific excellence and institution-building, he highlighted the contributions of personalities such as Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, Prof. U. N. Brahmachari, Sir C. V. Raman and Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
He said the present generation has the responsibility to build on this legacy and help restore Kolkata’s position as a major centre of scientific and technological excellence. The city’s strong academic and intellectual base, he added, provides a foundation for connecting its scientific heritage with frontier technologies and entrepreneurship.
Focus on Whole-of-Science Approach
The Minister said the government’s Whole-of-Government approach is increasingly translating into a Whole-of-Science approach, bringing ministries, departments, research institutions, academia and industry together.
He said the convergence of CSIR laboratories with IIT Kharagpur, IISER Kolkata, NIT Durgapur and Atal Tinkering Labs, along with networks under the Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Atomic Energy and Ministry of Earth Sciences, could create a strong knowledge corridor in eastern India.
Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the opening of sectors such as space, nuclear energy and biotechnology to greater private-sector participation, saying the move has created new opportunities for startups and businesses to contribute to national technology development.
He referred to the government’s decision to establish a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, as well as the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in promoting high-risk, high-reward research and stronger partnerships between academia, startups and industry.
Industry Urged to Commercialise Indigenous Technologies
Dr Jitendra Singh urged industry to come forward to adopt, support, finance and commercialise indigenous technologies emerging from Indian laboratories.
He said scientific projects and startups cannot operate in isolation and require a mutually beneficial relationship with industry. For technologies to reach the market at scale, he added, industry must recognise their commercial potential and become an active partner in the innovation process.
He also stressed that the outcomes of the RISE Conclave should feed into a continuous innovation ecosystem, rather than remain confined to a single event. He called for wider dissemination of knowledge, technologies and opportunities emerging from such platforms in languages and formats accessible to people across the country.
Six Labs Join Hands Under 4M Framework
The 6th RISE Conclave 2026 is being held on September 6–7 at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), Salt Lake, Kolkata, under the theme “Driving Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Viksit Bharat 2047.”
The conclave is jointly organised by CSIR-CGCRI, CSIR-IICB, CSIR-CMERI and CSIR-IMMT, bringing together startups, industry, academia, researchers, innovators, investors, incubators, MSMEs and policymakers.
At the centre of the conclave is the 4M framework — Minerals, Medicine, Materials and Machines, representing the complementary strengths of the participating CSIR laboratories.
The participating laboratories have showcased indigenous technologies and products with potential for technology transfer, licensing, commercialisation and industrial application, covering areas including advanced materials, healthcare, machinery, sanitation, waste management and sustainable engineering.
The Startup Exhibition and S&T Pavilion are providing platforms for entrepreneurs to showcase their technologies and engage with researchers, investors and industry representatives. Around 150 startups, 300 startup representatives and 150 delegates from incubation and innovation centres are participating.
The technical programme features eight panel discussions with 67 panelists, covering drug discovery and affordable healthcare, manufacturing technology, MSME innovation and R&D, materials-led innovation, decarbonisation of steel and aluminium, critical minerals, science communication, science-driven startups, and traditional wisdom and modern innovation.
A special lecture titled “The Lab-to-Market Leap: Building Ventures from Breakthrough Research” is also focusing on converting breakthrough research into market-oriented ventures.
MoUs and Technology Transfer Initiatives
The conclave is also translating its focus on commercialisation into concrete outcomes, with eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and four technology transfer initiatives forming a key part of the programme.
The event also features the launch of two products and inauguration of one facility, besides the launch of the CGCRI’s new logo, compendium and Bootcamp.
An Industry Meet is bringing senior industry representatives and other stakeholders together with scientists and dignitaries to strengthen industry-research linkages and identify opportunities for technology adoption and commercialisation.
Dr Jitendra Singh said eastern India’s scientific and technological capabilities, combined with its strong academic and industrial base, could play a major role in India’s technology-led growth.
He said startups can act as key vehicles for technology transfer, while established industries in sectors such as steel, aluminium, mining, jute, IT and software can become important partners in scaling up indigenous technologies.
The Minister also called for greater use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies to enhance indigenous machines, optical networks and other technologies developed by Indian laboratories.
He said India’s progress in space, biotechnology, nuclear energy and the digital economy, along with indigenous developments in vaccines, therapeutics and advanced technologies, demonstrates the potential of a science ecosystem when government, academia and industry work together.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 requires India to combine its scientific legacy with indigenous technology, entrepreneurship, modern manufacturing and strong industry partnerships.
He said the 6th RISE Conclave could serve as an important bridge between Bengal’s historic scientific spirit and the new energy of Indian entrepreneurship, helping India build, manufacture, heal and lead through indigenous innovation.
The valedictory programme on September 7 will include an address by Dr Kalyan Chakraborti, Minister-in-Charge for Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Information Technology and Electronics, Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Government of West Bengal.