In a landmark initiative to strengthen India’s innovation landscape, the National Workshop on “Building Synergies in Indian Innovation Ecosystem” was organized at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 22nd March 2025. The National Conference was organized by NITI Aayog and hosted by the Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST), DST, Government of Gujarat.
The workshop aimed to facilitate dialogue and knowledge-sharing among key stakeholders, including government officials, academic leaders, industrial experts, startup founders, and international representatives. With an agenda designed to foster synergy across sectors, the workshop addressed crucial topics like R&D investments, state policies on innovation, global innovation trends, and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The workshop was graced by Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, and Smt. Mona Khandhar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat. Their presence highlighted the significance of the workshop and reinforced the government’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancements.
In his inaugural address, Dr. V.K. Saraswat emphasized the vital role of collaboration between government bodies, academia, and industry in driving India’s innovation landscape forward. He called for a greater focus on translational research that fosters meaningful innovation and creates impactful startups, reflecting the global shift toward innovation. Dr. Saraswat also highlighted the importance of supporting DeepTech startups and stressed the need for India to transition from a service-based to a product-based industry model. Additionally, Dr. Saraswat shared valuable insights into key government initiatives designed to enhance research, innovation, and entrepreneurship across the country.
Smt. Mona Khandhar, IAS, spoke about Gujarat’s commitment to fostering a strong innovation ecosystem, driven by policy initiatives. She highlighted the state government’s dedication to promoting the startup and innovation landscape through various strategic policies, including the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, Gujarat Semiconductor Policy, Gujarat Electronics Policy, and the Gujarat Global Capability Center (GCC) Policy.
Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) outlined the action points for next 10 years for unique developmental journey of India. IP profile of India is small but has increased in last few years, Indian Origin patent filing has increased, and the country will add more S&T clusters in the near future, he added.
The workshop featured several interactive discussions led by eminent leaders in the field of innovation and technology. The session on “Bharat Innovates: Overview of the National Innovation Ecosystem” explored strategies for building an innovation-friendly India, moderated by Dr. R Ramanan, Former MD, Atal Innovation Mission. This was followed by a session on “Navachar Niti aur Rajya Yojnaayein: Learning from the Best,” which highlighted state-level initiatives and best practices in fostering innovation, chaired by Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Head, NCSTC, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
Another insightful session, “Navachar Ke Sarathi: Pioneering Innovations,” discussed the inspiring stories of grassroots innovators and start-ups were discussed, was moderated by Dr. Arvind Ranade, Director, National Innovation Foundation (NIF). Additionally, “Vishwa Mein Ubharta Bharat: Strengthening India’s Global Innovation Footprint” focused on India’s rising presence in the global innovation landscape, with key contributions from international experts specially Dr. Sacha Wunsch-Vincent from World Intellectual Property Organisation and Dr. Rajul Gajjar, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Technological University.
The conference concluded with an insightful discussion on future action plans, led by member Dr. V.K. Saraswat, alongside senior officials from NITI Aayog, senior representatives from the Gujarat State Government, and the Former DG of CSIR & Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The closing session underscored Gujarat’s pivotal role in driving innovation, emphasizing the state’s progressive policies, investment in research, and commitment to fostering a startup-friendly ecosystem.
