New Delhi: India is steadily advancing towards stronger academia–industry linkages that equip young researchers with the ability to imagine, innovate and contribute to new industrial frontiers, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.
Addressing the ninth Convocation of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), the Minister said AcSIR’s “i-PhD” programme, launched in 2023, marks a new chapter in research training by connecting imagination and innovation with industry needs.
He noted that the ‘i’ in i-PhD represents industry as well as imagination and innovation, reflecting the programme’s broader purpose. Each scholar, he said, is required to develop a technology relevant to translational research or startups, ensuring that research output is aligned with industrial and societal requirements.
Calling AcSIR a “wholesome whole,” Singh said the institution exemplifies a convergence of science, education, governance and national aspirations, supporting India’s progress toward a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He added that AcSIR’s rapid rise captures the growing prominence of scientific thinking under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with innovation playing a pivotal role in economic growth, technology missions and global competitiveness.
The Minister highlighted that AcSIR now hosts nearly 7,000 students mentored by over 3,100 scientists across 79 campuses, making it one of India’s most diverse research ecosystems. He said the institute has evolved into a “shared national university” that brings together scholars across disciplines and regions for collaborative research and knowledge exchange.
Reflecting on its early days, Singh said AcSIR represented a bold and unconventional experiment when it was established, designed to create a structured pathway for research that extended beyond traditional academic boundaries. Its fast expansion and rising demand, he said, demonstrate that the country was prepared for such an institution.
According to the Minister, AcSIR’s success is rooted not just in administrative support but in the passion of India’s young researchers, who increasingly view innovation, research and entrepreneurship as meaningful career paths. These programmes, he said, offer a sustainable future for scholars as technology developers, consultants and startup founders.
He added that as India moves toward becoming the world’s leading economy, its growth will be “entirely innovation-driven, technology-driven, and industry-driven”. AcSIR’s scholars, he said, are poised to be at the forefront of this transformation, contributing to areas such as deep tech, health research, sustainable agriculture, climate science and frontier technologies.
