January 8 – 9, 2026
India has made consistent progress in innovation over the last decade, driven by national missions such as AIM, Digital India, Startup India, National Quantum Mission, and BRIC biotechnology initiatives. These initiatives have contributed to improving India’s position in the Global Innovation Index from Rank 81 (2015) to Rank 38 (2025). However, truly sustainable progress now requires embedding innovation and R&D capacity within State institutions to ensure evidence-based policies, indigenous technology development, and localized problem-solving.
This workshop provides a focused national platform to:
Shri Suman Bery
Vice Chairperson,
NITI Aayog
Shri Suman Bery currently serves as Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog. A leading expert in political economy and structural policy reform, his work covers financial sector development, energy systems, banking reform, and institutional transformation. He previously served as Director-General (Chief Executive) of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), one of India’s foremost institutions for socioeconomic research. He holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University and an undergraduate degree in philosophy, politics, and economics from Magdalen College, University of Oxford.
Dr. V. K. Saraswat
Member, NITI Aayog; Former Secretary, DRDO; Former Director General, DRDO
Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat is one of India’s most distinguished defence scientists, with decades of leadership in both basic and applied research for national strategic programmes. As former Secretary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Director General of DRDO, he has guided India’s defence systems development, strategic technologies, and mission-driven innovation. His contributions to missiles, propulsion, and indigenous defence systems have been instrumental to India’s technological self-reliance.
Dr. Vinod K. Paul
Member (Health, Education & Nutrition), NITI Aayog; Former Head of Paediatrics, AIIMS New Delhi
Dr. Vinod Paul is a globally recognised medical scientist and one of India’s foremost public health leaders. He served as faculty at the Department of Paediatrics, AIIMS New Delhi from 1985 to 2020, including nearly ten years as Head of Department. His leadership at NITI Aayog spans Health, Nutrition, School Education, Skills, and Human Capital Development. With over 400 publications and an h-index of 72, he is featured among the world’s top 2% researchers in paediatrics, as assessed by Stanford University.
A snapshot of key national missions and State initiatives, intermediary structures, innovation councils/cells, and flagship programmes driving India’s innovation ecosystem.
Reimagining governance, funding, mandates, and departmental integration to position State S&T Councils as core hubs for coordinating R&D and innovation.
Developing State/UT-level innovation missions and peer networks—supported by AIM and NITI Aayog—to translate policy intent into operational delivery frameworks.
Establishing Innovation & Living Labs to field-test solutions with communities, leveraging models like GIAN, KVKs, NGOs, SHGs, and NIF networks for scalable, localised adoption.
Insights from global governance models and tools such as the India Innovation Index and State S&T Outlook to benchmark progress and guide State transformation.
