PM ADDRESSED THE EMERGING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2025

PM ADDRESSED THE EMERGING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CONFERENCE 2025

4-NOV-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conference (ESTIC) 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister welcomed scientists, innovators, members of the academia, and other distinguished guests from India and abroad. Referring to India's remarkable victory in the ICC Women's World Cup 2025, Mr. Modi said that the entire nation is excited by the success of the Indian cricket team. He heartily congratulated the women's cricket team on winning the World Cup for the first time. The Prime Minister said that the country is proud of them and expressed confidence that their achievement will inspire millions of youth across the country.

The Prime Minister said that yesterday India achieved remarkable progress in the world of science and technology. Referring to the successful launch of India's heaviest communication satellite by Indian scientists, he heartily congratulated all the scientists and ISRO involved in this mission. Mr. Modi said that today is also a historic day for science and technology. He stated that in the 21st century, there is a pressing need for global experts to come together on a single platform to deliberate and provide direction on emerging science, technology, and innovation. He stated that this need sparked an idea that evolved into the vision of this Conclave. He expressed his delight that this vision is now taking shape through this Conclave. The Prime Minister commended the participation of various ministries, the private sector, startups, and students in this initiative. He stated that it is an honor to have a Nobel laureate present among us today. He welcomed all present and wished the Conclave success.

Describing the 21st century as a period of unprecedented change, Shri Modi said that the global order is witnessing a new transformation, and the pace of change is not linear, but exponential. From this perspective, India is pursuing and continuously focusing on various aspects related to emerging science, technology, and innovation. For example, he highlighted the area of ​​research funding, recalling the well-known national vision of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan," and said that, with a renewed emphasis on research, this vision has been supplemented with "Jai Vigyan" and "Jai Anusandhan." He explained that the National Research Foundation has been established to promote research and innovation in Indian universities. The Prime Minister also announced the launch of the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme with an allocation of ₹1 lakh crore. He stated that efforts are also being made to promote research and development in the private sector. Mr. Modi stated that for the first time, capital is being made available for high-risk and high-impact projects.

The Prime Minister stated that India is working to build a modern innovation ecosystem and is focusing on research access. He emphasized that the government has made several reforms in financial regulations and procurement policies. Additionally, regulations, incentives, and supply chains have also been reformed to ensure that prototypes move faster from the laboratory to the market.

Shri Modi stated that the policies and decisions taken in recent years to transform India into an innovation hub are now yielding clear results. He proudly shared key statistics. India's research and development expenditure has doubled in the last decade, the number of registered patents has increased 17-fold, and India has become the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. He noted that over 6,000 deep-tech startups in India are currently working in areas such as clean energy and advanced materials. The Prime Minister further noted that India's semiconductor sector is now taking off. He also highlighted the growth of India's bio-economy, which has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to nearly $140 billion today.

Noting the country's significant progress in recent years in several emerging sectors, including green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep-sea exploration, and critical minerals, Shri Modi said that India has established a promising presence in all these areas.

The Prime Minister said that when science expands, innovation is inclusive, and technology accelerates change, it lays the foundation for great achievements. He cited India's journey over the last 10-11 years as an example of this vision. Shri Modi said that India is no longer just a consumer of technology, but has become a pioneer of change through technology. He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, India developed an indigenous vaccine in record time and launched the world's largest vaccination program.

Noting India's successful implementation of such large-scale policies and programs, the Prime Minister attributed this achievement to India's world-leading digital public infrastructure. He said that more than two lakh gram panchayats have been connected with optical fiber and mobile data has been democratized across the country.

Shri Modi said that while India's space program has reached the Moon and Mars, space science applications have also become a key component of this program. It has also been used to benefit farmers and fishermen through innovative technologies. He commended the contributions of all stakeholders behind these achievements.

Emphasizing the importance of inclusive innovation, the Prime Minister said that when innovation is inclusive, its primary beneficiaries also become its leaders. He cited Indian women as a prime example of this change. He said that whenever India's space missions are discussed globally, Indian women scientists receive significant recognition. He noted that a decade ago, fewer than 100 patents were filed by women per year in India, while today this number exceeds 5,000 per year. He further noted that women now account for approximately 43 percent of enrollment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in India, which is higher than the global average. He said that these figures reflect the rapid progress of women in science and technology in India.

Prime Minister Shri Modi said that some moments in history become lasting sources of inspiration for generations. He recalled how, a few years ago, children across India witnessed the Chandrayaan mission, experienced its failures and successes, and developed a deep fascination for science. He said that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's recent space station mission has sparked a renewed curiosity among children. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of harnessing this growing curiosity in the younger generation. He said that the more talented young people India can inspire towards science, technology, and innovation, the better it will be for the nation. In line with this vision, he informed that nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established across the country, where over 10 million children are experimenting with curiosity and creativity. He announced that, encouraged by the success of these labs, 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs will be established. The Prime Minister also noted that hundreds of new universities have been established in recent years, including seven new IITs and sixteen IIITs. He said that the new education policy has ensured that students can now study science and engineering courses in their local languages. Citing the success of the Prime Minister's Research Fellowships among young researchers, Mr. Modi announced that 10,000 fellowships would be awarded over the next five years to further strengthen research and development in the country.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to understand the transformative power of science and technology and ensure that they remain ethical and inclusive. Citing the example of artificial intelligence, he noted its wide-ranging applications, from retail and logistics to customer service and children's homework. He emphasized that India is working to make AI beneficial to every section of society. Under the India AI Mission, more than ₹10,000 crore is being invested.

The Prime Minister said that India is developing a global framework for ethical and human-centered AI. He said that the upcoming AI governance framework, aimed at simultaneously developing innovation and security, will be a major step in this direction. He announced that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026, which will accelerate efforts towards inclusive, ethical, and human-centered AI.

Calling for intensified efforts in emerging areas critical to achieving the goal of a developed India, Mr. Modi shared several insights and urged a shift from food security to nutrition security. He raised several important questions: Can India develop next-generation bio-fortified crops to help tackle malnutrition globally? Can innovations in low-cost soil health enhancers and bio-fertilizers serve as alternatives to chemical inputs and improve soil health? Can India better map its genomic diversity to advance personalized medicine and disease prediction? Can new and affordable innovations be developed in clean energy storage, such as batteries? He emphasized the importance of identifying critical inputs where India is globally dependent and achieving self-reliance in those areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that all those involved in the world of science and technology will move beyond the questions posed and discover new possibilities. He expressed his support for anyone with ideas and reiterated the government's full commitment to funding research and providing opportunities to scientists. The Prime Minister expressed hope that this conference would create a collective roadmap and take India's innovation journey to new heights. He concluded his remarks with the motto "Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan" (Victory to Science, Victory to Research), wishing all participants well.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Nobel Laureate Sir Andre Game, and other dignitaries were present at the conference.