Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Addressing the 9th Convocation of the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh observed that the “i-PhD” program launched by AcSIR in 2023 is a novel academic concept linking imagination and innovation with industry.
AcSIR, though barely over a decade young, has emerged as one of India’s most transformative scientific institutions, said the Minister. The Academy has “achieved far more than its age”, positioning itself as a national hub that brings together the best of India’s scientific talent across CSIR, ICMR, DST, ICAR, MoES, and leading universities, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, India is moving decisively toward academia-industry linkages that empower young scholars to imagine, innovate, and engage with emerging industrial sectors. And therefore, the ‘i’ in i-PhD stands not only for industry, but also for imagination and innovation.
Every i-PhD scholar is mandated to develop a technology relevant to translational research or StartUps, making India’s research training directly responsive to industrial needs.
Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that AcSIR represents a “wholesome whole”, a convergence of science, education, governance and national aspiration, aligned with India’s journey toward a Viksit Bharat. He said that AcSIR’s rapid rise reflects the growing prioritisation of science and innovation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, where scientific thinking has become central to India’s economic growth, technology missions, and global competitiveness.
The Minister highlighted that AcSIR today hosts nearly 7,000 students, mentored by over 3,100 frontline scientists across 79 campuses, making it one of India’s most diverse and multidisciplinary research ecosystems. He said the institution has, in effect, grown into a “shared national university”, drawing scholars and faculty from across disciplines and across the country and increasingly serving as a platform for research dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative discovery.
Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that when AcSIR was established, it represented a bold and novel experiment, an attempt to create an institutionalised pathway for research that transcended conventional academic boundaries. “Many may not have understood the idea at first,” he said, “but the rapid growth of campuses and rising demand shows that the country was ready for such an institution.”
The Minister added that AcSIR’s success lies not merely in administrative support but in the enthusiasm of India’s youth, who are choosing research and innovation as a meaningful and aspirational career for StartUp and livelihood.
The Minister added that such programs offer researchers a sustainable future, allowing them to contribute to society as entrepreneurs, consultants, and technology developers.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that as India moves from the world’s fifth-largest economy to eventually becoming the world’s leading economy, it will be “entirely innovation-driven, technology-driven, and industry-driven.” He said AcSIR’s scholars will have the opportunity to be “torchbearers of this journey,” shaping India’s rise in deep-tech, health research, sustainable agriculture, climate science, and frontier technologies.
At the outset, Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Chancellor Prof. P. Balaram; Member, NITI Aayog, Dr. V.K. Paul; Piramal; Director General, CSIR, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi; and Director, CSIR-IMTECH, Dr. Manoj Dhar. The Minister complimented Prof Dhar for his dynamic leadership and for steering one of the youngest CSIR institutions with vision, energy and academic inclusiveness.
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