A two-day national workshop on “Sustaining Innovation: Embedding R&D in State Institutions,” organised by the Govt of India’s NITI Aayog, concluded today at Amrita University, Coimbatore. It brought together senior policymakers, scientists, and academic leaders from across the country to deliberate on strengthening state-level research and innovation ecosystems.
Organised in collaboration with Amrita and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, the programme focused on institutionalising research and development within state institutions to enable evidence-based policymaking, scalable innovation, and sustainable development outcomes.
In a video message as Chancellor, Amma emphasised the need for inclusion, compassion, and responsible use of technology as essential pillars of societal progress.
Delivering the special address, Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, said that the research undertaken at Amrita is deeply rooted in addressing real-world challenges faced by ordinary people.
He noted that the Prime Minister strongly believes many of today’s societal challenges can be addressed only through the thoughtful and purposeful application of technology, and emphasised the need to align research outcomes with national priorities and public welfare.
The workshop opened on January 8 with a welcome address by Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh, Amrita’s Pro Vice Chancellor, who highlighted the responsibility of universities in building strong, sustainable R&D ecosystems.
Dr. V. K. Paul, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog, underscored the importance of embedding research and development deeply within institutions to ensure innovation that is both sustained and impactful.
Congratulating Amrita on its research contributions, Prof. Dr. S. Vincent, Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, noted that Tamil Nadu is currently at the forefront of patent filings in India, with nearly 5,000 to 6,000 applications filed annually. He said Amrita is a key contributor to this achievement and affirmed the state government’s support for the GI products being developed by the university.
A key outcome of the workshop was the formalisation of a collaborative partnership between Amrita University and CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR), New Delhi, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing impactful research and science-and-technology initiatives. The MoU was exchanged by Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh and Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Director, CSIR–NIScPR.
The programme also included a special session recognising the contributions of Shri Suman Bery, Prof. Lalnilawma, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development & Disaster Management, Government of Mizoram, and Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, for their leadership in policy-driven development and innovation.
The inaugural session additionally marked the release of two publications—Changing Dimensions: A Journey from Immersion to Impact and Scholars for Sustainability—showcasing Amrita’s efforts in translating research into tangible societal impact.
Over the two days, the workshop featured focused technical sessions and panel discussions on strengthening State Science & Technology Councils, institutionalising innovation through state missions, and linking grassroots innovation with policy frameworks. The deliberations concluded with shared insights and a collective roadmap for building inclusive, technology-driven, and outcome-oriented R&D ecosystems across states.
The workshop saw the participation of 79 external delegates, representing government bodies, research institutions, state S&T councils, and academia from across India.
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the country’s premier policy think tank and provides strategic, technical advice and fosters cooperative federalism using a “bottom-up” approach to involve state governments in economic policymaking.
