India’s push to move from technology adoption to technology leadership received a boost with the launch of the DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.
The Centre of Excellence, supported by the Department of Science and Technology with an investment of about ₹40 crore, was dedicated to the nation by Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
Housed in a newly constructed block within the IIM Ahmedabad campus, the CoE is envisioned as a national hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship, technology translation and venture creation. It aims to bring together technology experts, management professionals and industry stakeholders to support startups and entrepreneurs through an integrated ecosystem.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said India has transitioned over the past decade from incremental, technology-adopting growth to science-led, technology-driven development. He said the country is now focused on deep-tech growth, where innovation rooted in fundamental research is translated into scalable, market-ready solutions.
“Deep technology is not a passing trend; it is a national imperative. India’s future growth, strategic autonomy and global competitiveness will be determined by how effectively we translate science into solutions,” the minister said.
Singh said institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad have a critical role in ensuring that scientific innovation is backed by strong commercialisation strategies. He noted that technology without management cannot deliver optimal outcomes, while management without technology risks stagnation, making integrated centres such as the CoE essential for sustainable innovation.
The DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence spans about 59,000 sq ft and includes venture creation laboratories, collaborative workspaces, meeting and board rooms, training facilities and networking zones. It is expected to support early-stage startups, deep-tech founders, investors, students and institutional partners, strengthening the pipeline from laboratory research to market deployment.
The minister also highlighted the widening geographic spread of innovation in India, noting that nearly half of the country’s startups now originate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. He attributed this shift to affordable digital access, expanding incubation networks and supportive policy frameworks.
Referring to India’s global position, Singh said the country now ranks among the top three startup ecosystems worldwide, with steady growth in patent filings, scientific publications and resident-led innovation. He said these gains reflect sustained investments in scientific capacity-building and ecosystem development.
The launch also marked the unveiling of Translation Endeavours, a multi-institutional collaborative platform aimed at addressing gaps in technology translation in deep-tech domains. The initiative seeks to link academia, industry, government and investors through shared infrastructure, coordinated incubation and industry-aligned innovation pathways.
Singh said government mechanisms such as the Research, Development and Innovation Fund and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation are designed to provide patient, risk-tolerant support for deep-tech ventures, including early-stage startups, to enable responsible and sustainable scaling.
Concluding his address, the minister called for closer collaboration among researchers, students, industry and investors, emphasising that India’s innovation future depends on effective translation of scientific ideas into societal impact.
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