Hyderabad, Jun 30 (PTI) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said stronger partnerships between agricultural research and industry will drive the country’s next phase of economic growth by creating greater value from scientific innovation.
Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country’s scientific priorities have expanded beyond crop improvement to developing technologies that convert agricultural waste and residues into valuable products.
Speaking after inaugurating four Advanced Research and Development facilities and laying the foundation stone for a modern 200-student hostel complex at CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) here, he said the convergence of scientific institutions with industry has become essential for transforming research into economic value.
He said laboratories can no longer function in isolation and must increasingly work alongside industry, MSMEs, startups and technology partners to accelerate innovation and commercialization.
Referring to the country’s recent advancements in defence manufacturing, aviation, space and technology, he said India is steadily progressing from being a technology adopter to becoming a technology developer, with science emerging as a powerful force behind economic growth, strategic self-reliance and global competitiveness.
On the recent CSIR technologies for producing compressed biogas from food and agricultural waste and converting captured carbon dioxide into Dimethyl Ether, he said these innovations exemplify India’s growing commitment to clean energy, circular economy and the conversion of waste into valuable national resources.
During the event, he inaugurated the Advanced R&D Facility for Fluorochemicals and virtually dedicated to the nation the 500 KLD Decentralized Effluent Treatment Plant for the Siripuram Handloom Cluster in Telangana, the Continuous Processing Platform for Industrial Chemicals and the Sustainable Engineering Complex (SustEC).
Describing the newly-inaugurated Advanced R&D Facility for Fluorochemicals as a strategic national asset, the union minister said it will significantly strengthen the country’s indigenous capabilities in fluorination technologies and support the development of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, specialty chemicals and others.
Talking about the 500 KLD Decentralized Effluent Treatment Plant developed for the Siripuram handloom cluster with support from the Department of Science and Technology, Singh said the project demonstrates how scientific innovation can directly strengthen traditional industries and local economies.
About the Continuous Processing Platform, he said ‘continuous manufacturing technologies’ represent the future of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries by improving safety, enhancing productivity, ensuring product consistency and reducing environmental impact.
Describing the Sustainable Engineering Complex (SustEC) as one of the most future-oriented initiatives inaugurated on Tuesday, Singh said the facility reflects India’s transition towards a circular economy.
He said the common thread linking all four facilities is their ability to bridge laboratory research with industrial application.
Whether in fluorochemicals, clean manufacturing, environmental technologies or sustainable engineering, each initiative has been designed to support startups, MSMEs, entrepreneurs and established industries in scaling indigenous technologies, he added. PTI SJR SJR KH
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