The Union Ministry of Science and Technology has organised the 6th RISE Conclave in Kolkata to connect startups, researchers and industry with a focus on turning laboratory discoveries into market-ready products. The event, held on September 6-7 at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, brings together around 150 startups alongside government officials, scientists and business leaders. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh used the inaugural session to highlight the innovation potential of India’s smaller cities and call for stronger partnerships between science and industry.
What happened at the conclave
Four CSIR laboratories participated in the event, showcasing technologies across Minerals, Medicine, Materials and Machines. The conclave featured 67 experts across eight panel discussions covering healthcare, manufacturing, advanced materials, critical minerals, decarbonisation and science-driven startups. Around 300 startup representatives and 150 delegates from incubation centres attended alongside 150 additional delegates from innovation networks.
The event produced concrete outcomes including eight Memoranda of Understanding, four technology transfer arrangements, two product launches and the inauguration of one facility. Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised Kolkata’s historic role in Indian science, referencing the city’s scientific legacy and its potential to become a major technology hub again through partnerships between academic institutions like IIT Kharagpur and IISER Kolkata with industry.
The Minister noted that over 50-60 per cent of India’s startups operate outside metropolitan areas, with young innovators from smaller cities increasingly matching their counterparts in major hubs. He called for the government, academia and research institutions to extend support to these innovators rather than expecting them to relocate to established technology centres.
Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted recent government decisions including the establishment of a ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund and the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation in encouraging high-risk research and stronger academia-industry partnerships. He also noted the government’s opening of sectors like space, nuclear energy and biotechnology to private participation.
What this means for you
If you are a startup founder or researcher outside major metros, the conclave emphasises that government and scientific institutions now recognise your potential and aim to bring support and networking opportunities to your location. Entrepreneurs in smaller cities can access technology transfer opportunities and partnerships with CSIR laboratories without necessarily moving to established innovation hubs. The government’s push to link science with commercial application means research-based startups may find clearer pathways to funding and industrial partnerships going forward.