Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Startup India” Call Transformed Innovation into a National Movement: Dr. Jitendra Singh

By R Anil Kumar

• India’s Start-up Ecosystem Generates Nearly 25 Lakh Jobs; Number of Start-ups Surges from Around 350 to 2.3 Lakh: Dr. Jitendra Singh

• More Than 50% of Indian Start-ups Now Emerge from Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities

• RISE 2026 Brings Together Over 125 Start-ups, Signalling India’s Growing Strength in Deep-Tech Innovation

Bengaluru, June 13, 2026. Addressing the RISE Conclave 2026 in Bengaluru, organised under the theme “Innovation & Entrepreneurship Driven Growth for Viksit Bharat 2047”, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s StartUp movement has emerged as a major driver of employment generation, creating nearly 24–25 lakh jobs over the last decade. He noted that the country’s start-up ecosystem, which comprised only around 350–400 start-ups about ten years ago, has today expanded to nearly 2.3 lakh ventures, making India the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem and reflecting its transition into a full-fledged innovation economy.

Highlighting the role of visionary leadership in shaping India’s innovation landscape, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that many of the transformative changes witnessed in the country’s science and technology ecosystem can be traced back to the policy direction provided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that the Prime Minister’s call for “Startup India” in 2015 laid the foundation for a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, while subsequent reforms opened new avenues for private participation in strategic sectors and encouraged young Indians to pursue innovation-driven careers.

He further added, these initiatives have helped build a supportive ecosystem that is enabling the country to harness its demographic dividend and emerge as a global innovation hub.

The Minister highlighted that the RISE Conclave was conceived with the objective of bringing together the four pillars of Research, Industry, Start-ups and Entrepreneurship under one platform. He said the initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering collaborations among scientists, industries, investors, academia and policymakers to build a self-reliant and innovation-driven India.

Speaking on the growing momentum in India’s aerospace innovation ecosystem, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the country’s first public-private aerospace incubation centre, mach33.aero, established by CSIR-NAL in collaboration with its partners, has successfully completed five years of operations and has incubated 34 start-ups.

He further noted that more than 125 start-ups are participating in the RISE Conclave 2026, many of them from the aerospace sector, reflecting the growing confidence of young innovators in high-technology domains.

Expressing optimism about the future, the Minister said that such collaborations between start-ups and scientific institutions would not only create wealth and employment but could also lead to the emergence of several new unicorns in the years ahead.

Referring to the changing geography of entrepreneurship in the country, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that more than 50 per cent of India’s start-ups are now emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, demonstrating that innovation is no longer confined to metropolitan centres.

Dr Singh emphasised that entrepreneurship today is accessible to individuals with commitment, passion and technological aptitude, regardless of their location or formal educational qualifications.

Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that India has consciously ventured into sectors that remained underexplored in the past. Highlighting the opening up of the space sector to private participation, he said that significant progress has been achieved within a short span of time through policy reforms and industry involvement. He added that sectors such as biotechnology, deep ocean exploration and nuclear energy are also witnessing increased collaboration with private stakeholders.

The Minister stated that India’s global standing in innovation has improved substantially over the last decade. He noted that the country’s position in the Global Innovation Index has risen significantly, while patent filings by Indian residents have witnessed steady growth. He further highlighted the increasing quality of Indian scientific output, pointing to the growing presence of Indian research papers among globally cited publications.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also referred to the progress made under national missions in emerging technologies. He noted that the National Quantum Mission, launched with an eight-year roadmap, has already achieved several milestones ahead of schedule.

Similarly, the IndiaAI Mission is creating new opportunities in computing infrastructure, data ecosystems, innovation and future skills.

Referring to the future of the RISE Conclave, the Minister said that its success should be measured through concrete outcomes such as technologies licensed from laboratories, start-ups incubated, investments secured, industry collaborations established, products commercialised and jobs created.

He expressed confidence that the Bengaluru edition of RISE would facilitate meaningful partnerships capable of generating long-term economic and societal impact.

The RISE Conclave 2026 featured thematic discussions on Aerospace Technologies for Growth, Artificial Intelligence for societal transformation, and Agri-Food innovation, alongside exhibitions, industry interactions and participation from start-ups, MSMEs, investors, scientists and academic institutions.

The programme also included the exchange of technology transfer agreements and interactions between innovators and industry leaders.

Concluding his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the road to Viksit Bharat 2047 runs through the country’s laboratories, industries and start-up ecosystem, and above all through the aspirations and capabilities of India’s youth. He urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards building a self-reliant, prosperous and globally respected India powered by science, technology and innovation.

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Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the need for deeper collaboration between research institutions, industry and startups to accelerate the translation of scientific knowledge into market-ready solutions and national development outcomes.

Later Addressing an industry interaction session on the sidelines of the RISE Conclave 2026, the Minister emphasised that India has entered an era where scientific advancement must increasingly be assessed through its societal and economic impact. He said that laboratories, academic institutions and industries must work in close coordination to ensure that innovations move beyond the proof-of-concept stage and reach end users at scale.

Highlighting the Government’s commitment to creating an enabling innovation ecosystem, Dr. Jitendra Singh urged industry representatives to candidly articulate the challenges they face in engaging with public-funded research institutions.

The Minister highlighted the growing efforts being undertaken to improve access to indigenous technologies developed through public-funded research. He informed participants that the CSIR Technology Showcase Portal currently hosts more than 800 technologies, offering industries, entrepreneurs and startups a ready platform to identify solutions suited to their requirements and accelerate technology adoption.

Stressing the importance of strengthening industry linkages, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that collaboration with industry should begin at the conceptualisation stage of research projects rather than after technologies have matured. Such early engagement, he noted, would help align scientific pursuits with market requirements, facilitate technology transfer and improve the prospects of commercial success.

Dr. Jitendra Singh also emphasised the importance of shared scientific infrastructure in reducing entry barriers for startups and small enterprises. Citing examples from CSIR laboratories, he said that sophisticated facilities developed through public investment should increasingly function as common platforms accessible to innovators and industries working in emerging sectors.

Referring to advances in clean energy technologies, the Minister highlighted the example of a lithium battery manufacturing facility established with a production capacity of around 1,000 cells per day, demonstrating how scientific infrastructure can support both established industries and emerging enterprises in developing indigenous technological capabilities.

The Minister noted that a strong startup ecosystem requires sustained institutional support beyond incubation. He informed participants that several initiatives have been undertaken to simplify access to scientific infrastructure and support mechanisms for deep-tech enterprises. He observed that emerging technology startups often face unique challenges and therefore require flexible policy frameworks that recognise the realities of innovation-led entrepreneurship.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that dedicated incubation mechanisms are increasingly being developed to nurture startups working in frontier technology domains. He noted that six incubation centres established under the CSIR ecosystem are supporting innovators through mentoring, technical guidance and access to research facilities, thereby strengthening the country’s science-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Underscoring the importance of capacity building, the Minister said that scientific administrators and institutional leaders must also adapt to the changing requirements of the innovation landscape. He referred to ongoing efforts aimed at sensitising administrators to the expectations of industry and startups, thereby fostering a more responsive and collaborative research environment.

Dr. Jitendra Singh encouraged industry leaders to actively engage with research institutions and participate in shaping the country’s scientific agenda. He said that the objective is not merely to generate knowledge but to create technologies, enterprises and solutions that contribute to employment generation, industrial competitiveness and improved quality of life.

The interaction witnessed active participation from representatives of industry associations, startups, researchers and scientific institutions, who shared their experiences and offered suggestions on improving industry access to research infrastructure, enhancing technology transfer mechanisms and promoting innovation-led growth.

Concluding the interaction, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated the Government’s commitment to fostering a science and technology ecosystem that is open, collaborative and responsive to stakeholder needs. He expressed confidence that stronger partnerships between laboratories, industry and entrepreneurs would accelerate India’s emergence as a global hub of innovation and technological excellence.