Date: 2026-05-10Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh takes stock of interdisciplinary facility "SATHI" set up at BHU, Varanasi with support of Department of Science & Technology (DST) Govt of India
**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh reviewed the Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on May 10, 2026. Established with Rs. 72 crores from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), the facility serves as a national hub to democratize access to advanced scientific infrastructure. The review highlighted the centre's role in fostering industry-academia collaboration and supporting the vision of "Atmanirbhar Bharat" through indigenous innovation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SATHI-BHU Operational Model**
* Operates as a national-level shared scientific infrastructure facility under a Section 8 company model.
* Supported by nearly Rs. 72 crores in funding from the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
* Provides a multidisciplinary analytical and research support center for academia, research institutions, and industry.
* **Advanced Technical Infrastructure**
* Equipped with state-of-the-art tools including Super Resolution Confocal Microscopy with Live Cell Imaging and advanced NMR spectroscopy.
* Features High Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry, clean room facilities, and isotope analysis systems.
* Supports diverse research domains such as semiconductors, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and advanced materials.
* **Performance and Achievements**
* Served approximately 1,100 users and processed more than 30,000 samples since becoming operational.
* Trained around 1,000 researchers and stakeholders through 60 short-term capacity-building programs.
* Achieved NABL accreditation and contributed to high-impact research publications and patents.
* **National Strategic Initiatives**
* DST is expanding research support systems (SATHI, FIST, ARRF-linked mechanisms) to strengthen innovation ecosystems in universities.
* Focus on connecting colleges through space-related laboratories and research programs to promote scientific temper.
* Targeted interventions to support MSMEs, start-ups, and emerging enterprises through collaborative research platforms.
**Impact Analysis**
**Academia and Research Institutions**
* **Impact:** They gain access to high-end analytical facilities and technical expertise that were previously centralized or inaccessible, facilitating high-impact research and publications.
* **Action Required:** Leverage the shared infrastructure for advanced research and participate in user sensitisation and capacity-building programs.
**MSMEs and Start-ups**
* **Impact:** These entities benefit from a sustainable analytical services model and industrial support, helping them overcome technical barriers in R&D and innovation.
* **Action Required:** Engage with SATHI-BHU for technical expertise, sample processing, and collaborative research to enhance global competitiveness.
**Young Researchers and Students**
* **Impact:** They receive enhanced technical education and exposure to emerging technology capabilities through specialized training and space-related laboratories.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the facility’s short-term training programs to develop skills in advanced instrumentation and innovation-driven learning.
**Department of Science & Technology (DST)**
* **Impact:** The DST successfully democratizes technology access and strengthens the national innovation ecosystem through its outreach and funding initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue expanding scientific infrastructure across universities and maintaining institutional research capacity through targeted interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI): A national-level shared scientific infrastructure facility providing advanced instrumentation, analytical services, and technical expertise to academia, research institutions, and industry.
Department of Science & Technology (DST): The primary government body funding and expanding scientific infrastructure and research support systems across Indian universities and higher education institutions.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi: The host institution for the SATHI center, which serves as a national hub for interdisciplinary scientific research and industry support.
Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST): An initiative cited as part of the ecosystem helping build research, innovation, and industry-academia collaboration.
Atmanirbhar Bharat: The national vision for self-reliance that informs the policy of strengthening scientific infrastructure to make India globally competitive.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh takes stock of
interdisciplinary facility "SATHI" set up at BHU,
Varanasi with support of Department of Science
& Technology (DST) Govt of India
SATHI-BHU emerges as a national hub for advanced
scientific research, innovation and industry support: Dr.
Jitendra Singh
DST expanding research support systems in universities and
higher educational institutions across India to democratise
access to advanced technology and innovation
Space labs, research infrastructure and advanced
instrumentation widening India’s scientific outreach: Dr
Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 10 MAY 2026 5:31PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO,
Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh visited the Banaras
Hindu University (BHU) and inspected the interdisciplinary facility "SATHI" set up with the support of
Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India.
The Minister complimented the Vice Chancellor Prof A.K. Chaturvedi and the faculty for having
accomplished a success story for others to follow.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Department of Science & Technology (DST) is expanding scientific
infrastructure and research support systems across universities and higher educational institutions to
democratise access to advanced technology, innovation and scientific facilities in the country.
The Minister said initiatives such as SATHI, FIST, ARRF-linked research support mechanisms and other
institutional programmes are helping build a strong ecosystem for research, innovation, start-ups and
industry-academia collaboration, particularly for young researchers, MSMEs and emerging enterprises.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said DST’s outreach programmes are creating wider access to advanced scientific
infrastructure and technical education across the country by strengthening innovation ecosystems in
universities and research institutions. He said several universities and colleges are also being connected
through space-related laboratories and research programmes to promote scientific temper, innovation-
driven learning and emerging technology capabilities among students and young researchers.Dr. Jitendra Singh visited the Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) at Banaras
Hindu University (BHU) for a comprehensive review of the facility, including its infrastructure, analytical
capabilities, achievements and future roadmap. During the visit, the Minister was briefed on the
functioning of the centre and also inspected major scientific equipment and high-end analytical facilities
installed at the institute.
Senior officials of the Department of Science & Technology, Banaras Hindu University, scientists, faculty
members and representatives from the SATHI Centre were present during the visit.
SATHI-BHU has been established with the support of nearly Rs. 72 crores from the Department of
Science & Technology as a national-level shared scientific infrastructure facility providing access to
advanced instrumentation, analytical services and technical expertise for academia, research institutions,
industries, MSMEs and start-ups. The facility operates through a Section 8 company model within the
university ecosystem and has developed into a major multidisciplinary analytical and research support
centre.
The Minister said that strengthening scientific infrastructure in universities is essential for achieving the
vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and making India globally competitive in emerging technologies and
advanced research domains. He said the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi has consistently encouraged institutional research capacity, indigenous innovation and technology-
led growth through targeted scientific interventions and collaborative research platforms.
Dr. Jitendra Singh was informed that SATHI-BHU houses several state-of-the-art facilities, including
Super Resolution Confocal Microscopy with Live Cell Imaging, advanced NMR spectroscopy systems,
High Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry, clean room facilities, electrochemical workstations,
chromatography platforms and isotope analysis systems. These facilities are supporting research activities
in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, semiconductors, food sciences, environmental sciences,
biotechnology and advanced materials.
The Minister was also apprised that the centre has served nearly 1,100 users from academia, research
institutions and industries, processed over 30,000 samples and trained around 1,000 researchers and
stakeholders since becoming operational. Around 60 short-term training programmes have also been
conducted for capacity building and user sensitisation.
The Minister appreciated the efforts made by SATHI-BHU in achieving NABL accreditation and
developing a sustainable analytical services model with strong engagement from industry and research
sectors. The facility has also contributed to high-impact research publications, patents and collaborative
partnerships with national laboratories and industrial stakeholders, further strengthening the linkage
between science, innovation and economic growth.******
NKR/AK/NM
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