Dr Jitendra Singh, union minister of state (independent charge) Science and Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Science 20 (S20) Conference under the aegis of G20 on the topic “Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development”, at Amity University, Noida. 

There he talked the importance of start-ups and their novel innovations for the nation’s growth. He also said that the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 has sparked global aspirations in Indian students. 

He laid emphasis at the opening of the space sector in 2020 and how it led to the increase in the number of space start-ups from 04 to 150 and most of them being led by science students, researchers and entrepreneurs. 

“Start-ups encourage a pragmatic approach at the academic establishments further leading to large scale employment generation. It motivates students or researchers to put their ideas into practice by collaborating with the start-up, which more importantly help to develop means of economic expansion. India now stands 3rd in terms of start-up ecosystem with almost 110 Unicorns,” Dr Singh said.  

He stated that there were just 350 start-ups before 2014 but after the start-up scheme rolled out in 2016, there has been a jump with over 1.25 lakh start-ups and 110 unicorns. Similarly, he added that in the Biotech sector, from 50 odd start-ups in 2014, we now have 6,000 Biotech start-ups. 

He added that it is the hard work and determination of scientists, researchers and scholars that India is now ranked amongst top 3 nations in terms of publications and 9th in terms of Patents. India’s Global Innovation index has also seen significant improvement in the past years moving up the ladder from 81st position to 40th position. 

“India has recently created history by becoming the first country to land on the south polar region of the lunar surface. With the launch of Aditya -1 which is the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun, India’s ambitious space exploration programme has left a clear message that we are one of the most scientifically advanced nations in the field of Space Science and Technology,” he said.  

Referring to the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi later this week, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s G20 Presidency also heralds for India the start of ‘Amritkaal,’ a 25-year period commencing from the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence leading up to the centenary of its Independence.