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CHENNAI: Emphasising that government employment alone cannot be the sole avenue of aspiration for India’s youth, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday strongly advocated an Industry driven StartUp model and a decisive shift in mindset towards innovation-led entrepreneurship and job creation.
The Minister said, India’s innovation ecosystem has matured to a stage where opportunity is fully democratised and accessible “on a mobile phone.”
Addressing the inaugural session of the Research–Industry–Startup– Entrepreneurship RISE Conclave 2026 in Chennai, he said that India has moved from being a late entrant to emerging as a global innovation hub, and urged Tamil Nadu to leverage its strong academic and research base to contribute more significantly to the country’s over two lakh registered startups.
The two-day Research – Industry – Startup – Entrepreneurship (RISE) Conclave 2026, being held on 14–15 February at the Chennai Trade Centre, is designed to power India’s innovation future by bringing research institutions, industry leaders, academia, and young entrepreneurs on a common platform. Aligned with the Minister’s vision of a “Whole-of-Government for Whole-of-Society” approach, the Conclave seeks to integrate laboratory research with market needs, industry partnerships, and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The inaugural session was attended by Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR; Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Dr K Ramesha, Director, CSIR-CECRI; Dr N Anandawalli, Director, CSIR-SERC; and Dr P Thanikavelan, Director, CSIR-CLRI. The programme also featured exchange of umbrella MoUs between CSIR and academic institutions with their incubators, partnerships between CSIR laboratories and startups/industry, and the virtual inauguration of a Centre of Excellence with L&T.
Recalling his formative years in Chennai, Dr Jitendra Singh described the city as a historic seat of learning and innovation, and said institutions like CSIR-CLRI have been icons of national pride since Independence. He said that CLRI products now enjoy strong export presence and that CSIR laboratories have increasingly expanded beyond silos to integrate with national growth priorities.
Highlighting the broader development landscape, the Minister said, Tamil Nadu has received significant support under flagship schemes such as PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM SVANidhi, PM Awas Yojana and the expansion of Vande Bharat train services, adding that such initiatives reflect recognition of the State’s contribution and potential.
On startups, the Minister said that while India had only about 350 recognized startups in 2014, the number has now crossed two lakh, generating over 21 lakh jobs. Nearly 69 percent of beneficiaries under the Mudra scheme are women, and tens of thousands of startups are women-led. India’s Global Innovation Index ranking has risen from 81 to 38, and the country now ranks sixth globally in patent filings, with a majority of patents being filed by Indian residents working from within the country.
The Minister emphasized that innovation is not confined to IT or artificial intelligence, stating that traditional sectors such as leather, agriculture and manufacturing are equally viable startup domains. Referring to initiatives like PM Vishwakarma Yojana, he said artisans adopting traditional vocations can receive financial support, training, stipends, and tool assistance, enabling technology-backed value addition while preserving cultural heritage. He cited the example of leather artisans benefiting from technological inputs from CSIR-CLRI and improved market linkages.
Dr Jitendra Singh also spoke about the expanding ecosystem under the present government, including Technology Innovation Hubs, the National Quantum Mission, NIDHI programmes for nurturing innovation, and a network of technology business incubators across the country. He referred to recent scientific achievements such as Chandrayaan, vaccine development, a new antibiotic breakthrough, and India’s first successful gene therapy trial for hemophilia conducted through the Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Calling for greater synergy between the Centre and the State to unlock Tamil Nadu’s full startup potential, he noted that despite its academic legacy and vibrant cities like Chennai and Coimbatore, the State’s share in the national startup base can expand further. He also stressed the importance of involving parents and guardians in startup outreach efforts to ensure sustained encouragement for young innovators.
With over 110 stalls and participation comparable to major national innovation events, the RISE Conclave 2026 signals a renewed push to align research, industry and entrepreneurship, positioning Chennai as a key node in India’s next phase of innovation-led growth.
