India’s transition from technology adoption to technology leadership gained momentum with the inauguration of the DST–NIDHI Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A). The Centre, supported and funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) with an investment of around Rs 400 million, was dedicated to the nation by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences.

Housed in a newly developed dedicated block within the IIM Ahmedabad campus, the Centre of Excellence has been envisioned as a national hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship, technology translation and venture creation. It aims to offer startups and entrepreneurs an integrated ecosystem by bringing together technology experts, management professionals and industry stakeholders under one roof.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Jitendra Singh said that over the past decade India has decisively moved from incremental, technology-adopting growth to science-led, technology-driven development. Emphasising the importance of deep tech, he said innovation rooted in fundamental research must be translated into scalable, market-ready solutions to ensure long-term growth, strategic autonomy and global competitiveness.

The Minister underlined the critical role of institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad in bridging the gap between science and the market. He noted that technology without sound management cannot achieve optimal impact, while management without technological depth risks stagnation, making integrated centres such as the DST–NIDHI CoE vital for sustainable innovation.

Spread across nearly 59,000 sq ft, the Centre includes venture creation labs, collaborative workspaces, meeting and board rooms, training facilities and networking zones. It will support early-stage startups, deep-tech founders, investors, students and institutional partners, strengthening the pipeline from laboratory research to commercial deployment.

Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted the democratisation of innovation, noting that nearly half of India’s startups now originate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. He pointed to India’s position among the top three global startup ecosystems, supported by rising patent filings and scientific output. The launch also saw the unveiling of “Translation Endeavours”, a collaborative platform aimed at breaking silos between academia, industry and government to accelerate deep-tech translation and societal impact.