The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India hosted the first-ever International Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters Conference (ISTCC) from 4–5 December at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The conference, themed “Making Lives Easier Through S&T”, brought together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, innovators, and diplomats from over 30 countries.
The inaugural session was led by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the GoI, who highlighted the role of the Quadruple Helix model in driving collaboration across academia, industry, startups, and government stakeholders. Participants showcased the impact of eight S&T Clusters across India, addressing regional challenges through sustainable, scalable, and technology-led solutions.
Key discussions focused on Smart Agriculture, Healthcare, Environmental Sustainability, Industry Automation, Plastic & E-Waste Management, and Livelihood Technologies. The conference also featured an exhibition with 42 stalls highlighting cluster innovations and international contributions, and released four compendiums documenting achievements in water, agri-tech, solid waste management, and Kalanubhaav innovations.
The two-day event concluded with the signing of 12 MoUs with national and international partners and the launch of CHEM AMAZE, a gamified learning platform. Prof. Sood emphasised that S&T Clusters have evolved into national technology accelerators, ready to deploy innovations in critical sectors such as water, agriculture, climate resilience, and sustainability, while strengthening international partnerships.
The ISTCC underscored India’s growing science and technology ecosystem and its commitment to translating research into real-world impact, reinforcing OPSA’s mission to make lives easier through innovation.
