New Delhi, Nov 23 (LatestNewsX) – India is rapidly forging links between academia and industry to let young scholars explore, create, and interact with emerging sectors, said Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, during the ninth Convocation of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR).
He explained that AcSIR’s 2023 “i-PhD” initiative is a pioneering model that blends imagination, innovation and industry. “The ‘i’ in i‑PhD stands not only for industry, but also for imagination and innovation,” he clarified.
Under this program every i‑PhD candidate must invent a technology geared toward translational research or a startup, making India’s research training directly relevant to market demands.
Singh described AcSIR as a “wholesome whole”, a nexus of science, education, governance and national ambition that aligns with the country’s push toward a “Viksit Bharat”. He pointed out that the academy’s swift expansion mirrors Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on scientific thinking as the engine of India’s economic development, technology initiatives and global standing.
Presently AcSIR hosts nearly 7,000 students and is guided by more than 3,100 frontline scientists across 79 campuses, positioning it as one of the most diverse and multidisciplinary research ecosystems in the nation. “In effect, the institution has become a shared national university, drawing scholars and faculty from all fields and regions and increasingly serving as a platform for dialogue, knowledge‑exchange and joint discovery,” he added.
When AcSIR was founded, it represented a bold experiment: a structured pathway that moved beyond traditional academic limits. “Many may not have grasped the concept at first,” he recalled, “but the rapid campus growth and mounting demand prove that the country was ready for such an institution.”
The minister highlighted that AcSIR’s achievements stem not only from administrative backing but also from the enthusiasm of India’s youth, who view research and innovation as a meaningful and aspirational route toward entrepreneurship and livelihood. Programs like this furnish researchers with a sustainable future, enabling them to contribute as entrepreneurs, consultants, and technology developers.
As India transitions from the world’s fifth‑largest economy to eventually becoming its leading economy, Singh emphasized that the trajectory will be fully “innovation‑driven, technology‑driven, and industry‑driven”. AcSIR’s scholars will be “torchbearers of this journey”, shaping India’s ascent in deep‑tech, health research, sustainable agriculture, climate science, and frontier technologies.
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