Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, released the “Science and Technology (S&T) Clusters Annual Report 2024-2025” during a meeting held on June 26, 2025, in New Delhi. The meeting was joined by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, along with all the Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Principal Investigators of the Clusters, and the S&T Clusters team at OPSA.

The report highlights several significant outcomes from the Clusters, including the deployment of EV charging infrastructure in Delhi/NCR, the launch of Kalaanubhav.in - an AR/VR-enabled artisan marketplace - and the “One Delhi” digital transit app, which has garnered over 3 lakh users. Additional impactful innovations include health-tech solutions such as diabetic foot screening foot-mats, One Health initiatives, e-waste management systems, and the development of pacemaker leads at AMTZ Vizag. These examples underscore the scalable and high-impact potential of the Clusters’ collaborative efforts.

The S&T Clusters initiative, a flagship program of OPSA to the Government of India, was launched in 2020 based on the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). These Clusters aim to bring together stakeholders, like academic institutions, Research & Development (R&D) organisations, industry, startups, and local governments, to deliver demand-driven solutions through innovative ideas.

The Clusters aim to bring together key stakeholders including academic institutions, R&D organisations, industry, startups, and local governments, combining their shared innovative ideas to develop demand-driven solutions. Operating through a consortium-based model, the focus of S&T Clusters is to address regional challenges through science and technology-led solutions, while aligning with national priorities under the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

As part of the future outlook for the S&T Cluster initiative, Prof. Sood, emphasised the importance of “inter-cluster collaborations,” aimed at fostering synergy among Clusters to scale and replicate successful regional innovations at the national level. This collaborative model is expected to amplify the overall impact and reinforce the strength of India’s innovation ecosystem. Dr. Maini further highlighted the critical role of industry engagement in Phase 2.0 of the initiative. She reiterated that active collaboration between industry and the scientific community is essential for driving innovation, accelerating the practical application of research outcomes, and ensuring alignment of scientific efforts with real-world market and societal needs.

Currently, eight Clusters are active across India. These include Andhra Pradesh Medtech Zone (AMTZ Vizag), Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster (BeST), Bhubaneswar City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster (BCKIC), Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation Cluster (DRIIV), Jodhpur City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster (JCKIC), Panjab University – IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations (PI-RAHI), Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC), and Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH).

The complete S&T Clusters Annual Report 2024-2025 can be accessed on the Office of PSA website, at: https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/2025-06/Science%20and%20Technology%20Clusters%20Annual%20Report%20%282024%20-%202025%29.pdf

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MJPS/ST

Clusters Press Release