Lok Sabha Question No. 681 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-03
Subject: Scientific Research and Innovation in Punjab Universities and Institutes
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Malvinder Singh Kang

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 681 ANSWERED ON 03/12/2025

## SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN PUNJAB UNIVERSITIES AND

INSTITUTES

## 681.  SHRI MALVINDER SINGH KANG:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote scientific research and innovation in Punjab's universities and institutes;
- (b) whether the Government has initiated any major technology parks or incubators specifically in Punjab; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and their outcomes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The Government has been actively supporting scientific research and innovation through various schemes/initiatives across the country, including different institutes and universities in the state of Punjab.

Department of Science and Technology, under the National Quantum Mission, has supported  creation of facilities at Indian Institute of Technology,  Ropar  in  the  area  of Quantum  Computing  and Quantum Sensing  &  Metrology,  and  at  Indian  Institute  of  Science  Education  and Research (IISER) Mohali in the area of Quantum Communication.

Under Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (FIST) program, 25 academic institutions have been supported in the state of Punjab. Under Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) scheme, two universities have been  supported  to  strengthen  the  research  and  development  (R&D) infrastructure,  enabling  them  to  conduct  mission-oriented  research  in various areas aligned with national priorities.

To promote indigenous innovation in clean energy and water, DST has supported several R&D projects in universities and institutes of Punjab, such as Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; IISER, Mohali; Plaksha University, Mohali; Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Jalandhar and IIT Ropar. DST's Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST),  Mohali  has  been  pursuing  cutting  edge  research  in  several interdisciplinary subjects in the realm of nano science and technology.

Under the Science and Heritage Research Initiative (SHRI), DST has supported  projects  in  Punjab  Agricultural  University,  Ludhiana;  Dr  B.R. Ambedkar  National  Institute  of  Technology,  Jalandhar;  Punjab  Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), Ludhiana and IISER, Mohali for developing viable technologies to address cultural heritage related issues.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been promoting research and development and fostering a culture of research and  innovation  in  various  Universities,  Colleges,  Research  Institutions, and R&D laboratories of Punjab. ANRF (erstwhile Science and Engineering Research  Board  -  SERB)  has  sanctioned  following  number  of  projects during last three years under different programs to support research in the state of Punjab.

| Financial Year      |   Total number of projects sanctioned |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2022-23             |                                   116 |
| 2023-24             |                                   103 |
| 2024-25             |                                    38 |
| 2025-26 (Till date) |                                    29 |

The constituents laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) namely, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh and CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIRIMT), Chandigarh have undertaken several steps to promote the scientific research and innovation in Punjab's universities and institutes.

(b) to (c): Department  of  Science  and  Technology,  under  the  National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), has established  Inclusive-Technology  Business  Incubator   (I-TBI)  at  Guru Angad  Dev  Veterinary  and  Animal  Sciences  University,  Ludhiana  and Central  University  of  Punjab,  Bathinda  to  nurture  innovative  ideas  of innovators and entrepreneurs in the nearby regions. Under the NIDHI TBI program,  DST  has  established  Technology  Business  Incubator  at  IISER,

Mohali; Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar (NIT), Jalandhar; Lovely Professional University, Phagwara; and Punjab Agriculture  University,  Ludhiana;  for  providing  support  and  nurturing knowledge driven innovative start-ups into successful enterprises. These centres have supported more than 65 startups working in various fields of Science  and  Technology  like  Biotechnology,  Life  Sciences,  Agriculture, Dairy etc.

DST, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems  (NM-ICPS)  has  established  Technology  Innovation  Hub  at  IIT Ropar, specializing in agriculture and water technologies. The Hub actively fosters  collaborations  between  academia  and  industry,  particularly  in areas such as agriculture, water management, and related domains across the country.

DST has supported the establishment of a nanotechnology-focused incubator in Punjab. This initiative has led to the creation of the Nanobio Incubation Center at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali. The centre nurtures innovations in healthcare, agriculture, environmental sustainability and related sectors.

The  Department  of  Biotechnology  has  established  the  a  BioNEST incubation centres at National Agri Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Mohali;  E-YUVA  Centre  at  Central  University  of  Punjab,  Bathinda  and  a BioNEST incubation centre and an E-YUVA Centre at Panjab University, Chandigarh  to  foster  innovation  and  entrepreneurship  in  the  domain  of biotechnology.  These  Incubation  centres  have  supported  a  total  of  64 fellows and incubatees, fostering translational research and entrepreneurship among students and researchers in the state of Punjab.

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