Lok Sabha Question No. 6047 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Promotion of Innovation and Scientific Research Infrastructure in Chandigarh
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 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

(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

infrastructure,  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  industryacademia  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 industryacademia collaboration and technology commercialization.

## The details of the R&D projects supported in Chandigarh

|   S.No. | Organization                               | FY      |   Number of Projects |   Sanctioned amount (Rs. in lakh) |
|---------|--------------------------------------------|---------|----------------------|-----------------------------------|
|       1 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT)          | 2021-22 |                    7 |                           1480.92 |
|       2 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT)          | 2022-23 |                    6 |                            811.5  |
|       3 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT)          | 2023-24 |                    6 |                            569.45 |
|       4 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT)          | 2024-25 |                    2 |                            154.05 |
|       5 | Department of Biotechnology (DBT)          | 2025-26 |                    6 |                            446.07 |
|       6 | Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 2021-22 |                    2 |                            121.64 |
|       7 | Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 2022-23 |                    6 |                            391.1  |
|       8 | Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 2023-24 |                   24 |                           3202.06 |
|       9 | Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 2024-25 |                    3 |                            202.44 |
|      10 | Department of Science and Technology (DST) | 2025-26 |                   10 |                           1466.67 |

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## Annexure-I