On November 25-26, 2024, the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay K Sood, presided over the 2nd All Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters’ Meeting held in Bhubaneswar. The event was hosted by the Bhubaneswar City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC) and marked the 25th Anniversary of the Office of the PSA (OPSA).
The S&T Cluster Initiative, launched by OPSA in 2020, has established eight vibrant clusters across India. These include the Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ) in Vizag, Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST), Bhubaneswar City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster Foundation (BCKIC), Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation (DRIIV), Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster (JCKIC), Panjab University – IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI-RAHI), Pune Knowledge Cluster Foundation (PKCF), and the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH). These clusters unite academia, industry, government, and startups to collaboratively address regional challenges through scientific and technological interventions.
During the meeting, the eight clusters showcased their accomplishments and ongoing initiatives, highlighting the tangible benefits of collaboration. In his keynote speech, Prof. Sood stressed the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, the need to break down silos, and the value of fostering a collective problem-solving mindset. He emphasized that cluster-based models should deliver outcomes that traditional approaches cannot achieve and urged increased inter-cluster collaboration to scale impactful projects across regions.
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary of OPSA, highlighted the significance of translational research and the growing role of India’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem. She underscored the value of industry partnerships in the second phase of the cluster initiative, which aims to upscale technologies for societal benefit.
Prof. Sood also launched six thematic compendiums covering critical areas such as Healthcare, Energy and Environment, Agritech and Nutrition, STEM Education, Livelihood through S&T Interventions, and North East India Impact and Industry 4.0. Additionally, he unveiled the new cluster dashboard, which will track and highlight the progress of various cluster activities.
An interactive session followed, bringing together industry representatives, corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners, and local authorities. The discussions focused on how clusters can complement industry efforts and the role of scientific research in creating actionable solutions.
Prof. Sood urged all clusters to actively pursue collaborations, aiming to replicate successful outcomes across regions. This approach, he stated, would enhance collective impact before national rollout.
In addition, Prof. Sood inaugurated the Atal Tinkering Labs’ Student Innovation Fair, organized by BCKIC under its “Catch Them Young” initiative. The fair provided a platform for students and startups to showcase innovative ideas, interact with experts, and discuss their work with Prof. Sood.
The meeting underscored the transformative potential of collaborative S&T initiatives, reaffirming the commitment to using science and technology to foster regional and national development.
