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January 8 – 9, 2026

National Workshop on Sustaining Innovation: Embedding R&D in State Institutions

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

About

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:

  • Strengthen State Science & Technology Councils
  • Enable structured innovation pathways across State departments
  • Build research-driven governance models
  • Connect grassroots innovation to State policy
  • Create a roadmap for long-term State innovation capacity
Download Agenda

Organized by

Distinguished Delegates

Shri Suman Bery
Vice Chairperson,
NITI Aayog

Dr. V. K. Saraswat
Member, NITI Aayog; Former Secretary, DRDO; Former Director General, DRDO

Dr. Vinod K. Paul
Member (Health, Education & Nutrition), NITI Aayog; Former Head of Paediatrics, AIIMS New Delhi

Dr. Vincent Savarkar
Member Secretary Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology, Chennai

Dr. Venkat Rangan
Vice Chancellor,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Dr. Maneesha Vinodini Ramesh
Pro Vice Chancellor; Dean, School for Sustainable Futures; Dean, International Programs; UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation & Development; Director, Amrita Center for Wireless Networks & Applications

Dr. Ajithkumar
Registrar,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Thematic Sessions

3.1

Major Initiatives to Support Innovation at National & State Level

A snapshot of key national missions and State initiatives, intermediary structures, innovation councils/cells, and flagship programmes driving India’s innovation ecosystem.

3.2

Strengthening S&T State Councils

Reimagining governance, funding, mandates, and departmental integration to position State S&T Councils as core hubs for coordinating R&D and innovation.

3.3

Institutionalizing Innovation through State Missions: From Policy to Practice

Developing State/UT-level innovation missions and peer networks—supported by AIM and NITI Aayog—to translate policy intent into operational delivery frameworks.

3.4

Linking Grassroots Innovation to State Policy

Establishing Innovation & Living Labs to field-test solutions with communities, leveraging models like GIAN, KVKs, NGOs, SHGs, and NIF networks for scalable, localised adoption.

3.5

Innovation Governance and Performance Benchmarking Framworks

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.

Formats

“The workshop will comprise plenary sessions, invited keynotes, expert panels, brainstorming sessions, micro-exhibits, and state presentations.“

Participants

Senior leaders and executives from different central govt ministries/departments.
Innovation policy and systems, and Sustainability experts from international organizations, foreign embassies in India and academic/ research institutions.Rally promoting nutrition awareness.
Leaders and Practitioners from state innovation missions, state planning commissions and state science & technology councils.
Institutional leaders from Academic and R&D institutions.
Senior executives and beneficiaries from top performing incubators (through Atal Innovation Mission).
Grassroots Innovators (through National Innovation Foundation).

Contact

For Further Details:

Dr. Krishna Nandanan
krishnanandanan@am.amrita.edu
provostoffice@amrita.edu

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