Parliament Question: Promotion of Innovation and Scientific Research Infrastructure in Chandigarh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6047 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026 PROMOTION OF INNOVATION AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IN CHANDIGARH

6047. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any initiatives to promote scientific research, innovation hubs and technology incubation centres in Chandigarh;

(b) whether institutions located in Chandigarh such as universities, research institutes and technology centres have received funding under schemes like Startup India, Technology Development Board, or National Research Foundation and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of research grants, innovation clusters, start-up incubation centres, technology business incubators and research infrastructure projects supported by the Government in Chandigarh during the last five years, year-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to establish or support the development of new research facilities, science and technology parks, innovation hubs or technology incubation centres in Chandigarh to strengthen the region’s research and innovation ecosystem; and

(e) the steps taken or proposed to enhance industry–academia collaboration, technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes through institutions located in Chandigarh? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (c): The Government of India has promoted scientific research, innovation and startup incubation across the country including Chandigarh through various programmes and schemes of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Anusandhan National Research Foundation Page 1 of 4(ANRF), and Startup India initiative. Support is provided for research projects, incubation centres, innovation hubs, research infrastructure and entrepreneurship development in academic and research institutions.

The DST has promoted technology development, technology translation and industrial adoption through establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Technology Enabling Centres (TECs) in academic and research institutions across the country. In the Chandigarh region, DST has supported a CoE in Waste Management Technologies at Chitkara University and TECs at Panjab University and Chitkara University.

The DST has established the Biomedical Instruments and Devices Hub at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) for biomedical device development and translational research infrastructure.

During the last 5 years, the DST has supported 45 research and development (R&D) projects in Chandigarh.

The DBT during the last 5 years, has supported 35 R&D projects in Chandigarh. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a PSU of DBT, has established a BioNEST bio-incubator and an E-YUVA Centre at Panjab University. BIRAC has also supported 7 start-ups under the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme and 2 start-ups under the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) fund in Chandigarh.

CSIR laboratories in Chandigarh, namely CSIR–Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) and CSIR–Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), have promoted scientific research and innovation through R&D collaborations, startup meets, industry–academia interactions, internships, skill development programmes, outreach activities, and interdisciplinary collaboration through the Chandigarh Region Innovation & Knowledge Cluster (CRIKC).

The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) promotes scientific research and innovation ecosystem through competitive research funding programmes open to institutions across the country including those located in Chandigarh. Institutions such as Panjab University, PGIMER, Punjab Engineering College, CSIR–IMTECH, CSIR–CSIO, Government Medical College and Hospital in Chandigarh have received support under ANRF research funding programmes such as Core Research Grant, Start-up Research Grant, National Post Doctoral Fellowship, SERB-POWER Grants, Ramanujan Fellowship, MATRICS and Teachers Associateship for Research Excellence. These programmes support research projects, research Page 2 of 4infrastructure, fellowships and innovation ecosystem development in institutions located in Chandigarh. During the last five years, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF),has provided support to 8 research projects in institutions located in Chandigarh with a total sanctioned cost of approximately ₹19.70 crore, and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), has provided support to 27 startups and industry–academia collaborative innovation projects from Chandigarh with a total sanctioned support of approximately ₹34.62 crore.

Details of the projects supported in Chandigarh is placed at Annexure-I.

(d) The government has supported establishment and strengthening of research infrastructure, innovation hubs, incubation centres and science and technology parks across the country, including Chandigarh, based on the merit of proposals received from institutions under various schemes and programmes. Under the R&D infrastructure development schemes such as Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST), Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE), Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facilities (SAIF) of DST, in the last Five years, four academic institutions namely, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Punjab Engineering College, National Institute of Technical Teacher's Training & Research and Panjab University, have been supported in Chandigarh.

(e) The Government has taken several steps to enhance industry– academia collaboration, technology transfer and commercialization of research outcomes through collaborative R&D projects, Technology Business Incubators, BioNEST incubators, CoE, TECs, Startup support programmes, Technology development and commercialization programmes and public–private partnership initiatives.

The DST has established TECs in universities including Panjab University and Chitkara University to promote technology development, intellectual property generation, industry collaboration and commercialization of research outcomes. The DBT through BIRAC supports industry–academia collaboration through programmes such as SBIRI and PACE and through BioNEST incubators. The ANRF also launched mission-oriented programmes such as Electric Vehicle Mission, 2D Materials Innovation Hub, MedTech Mission and Artificial Intelligence for Science and Engineering programmes which mandate industry participation and cost sharing to promote industry– academia collaboration and technology commercialization.

Page 3 of 4Annexure-I The details of the R&D projects supported in Chandigarh Number of Sanctioned amount S.No. Organization FY Projects (Rs. in lakh) 1 2021-22 7 1480.92 2 Department of 2022-23 6 811.5 3 Biotechnology 2023-24 6 569.45 4 (DBT) 2024-25 2 154.05 5 2025-26 6 446.07 6 2021-22 2 121.64 Department of 7 2022-23 6 391.10 Science and 8 2023-24 24 3202.06 Technology 9 2024-25 3 202.44

(DST) 10 2025-26 10 1466.67 ***** Page 4 of 4