Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday inaugurated four state-of-the-art research and development facilities and laid the foundation stone for a modern 200-student hostel complex at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) here, in a move set to significantly boost India’s scientific research and manufacturing capabilities.
Addressing a gathering of scientists, industry leaders and startups, Singh said India’s research institutions are playing an increasingly central role in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat through technological self-reliance and sustainable development. “The true measure of scientific excellence lies not merely in research publications, but in technologies that generate employment, strengthen Indian industry, and improve the lives of ordinary citizens,” he said.
Four Cutting-Edge Facilities Inaugurated
The facilities inaugurated by the minister include the Advanced R&D Facility for Fluorochemicals, the Decentralised Effluent Treatment Plant for Textile Wastewater, the Continuous Processing Technologies Facility, and the Sustainable Engineering Complex (SustEC).
The fluorochemicals facility will enable indigenous development of next-generation fluorochemicals used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and electronics, cutting down import dependence while promoting greener technologies.
The 500 KLD decentralised effluent treatment plant, developed for the Siripuram Handloom Cluster with support from the Department of Science and Technology, is expected to benefit nearly 6,700 residents by improving sanitation and offering a scalable model for textile clusters across the country.
Meanwhile, the Continuous Processing Technologies Facility will provide a platform for safer, more efficient manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals, and the Sustainable Engineering Complex will offer pilot-scale infrastructure to help translate laboratory research into industrial-scale application.
Rs 44.46-Crore Hostel to House 200 Students
Singh also laid the foundation stone for a new hostel complex worth Rs 44.46 crore, which will accommodate 200 students and research scholars. Officials said the facility is expected to strengthen residential infrastructure at the institute and help attract young research talent from across the country.
Push for Industry Collaboration
Singh underlined that laboratories “can no longer function in isolation” and must work closely with industry, MSMEs, startups and technology partners to accelerate innovation and commercialisation. He pointed to agriculture as a key example, noting that scientific research is expanding beyond crop improvement into technologies that convert agricultural waste into reusable, value-added products — creating fresh opportunities for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
He also welcomed the recent recruitment of nearly 90 permanent staff, including around 70 scientists and technical professionals, at CSIR-IICT, and urged the institute to leverage frameworks such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to fast-track lab innovations to market.
CSIR-IICT Director Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy highlighted the institute’s eight-decade legacy of scientific excellence, adding that the new infrastructure would significantly strengthen its research capabilities and accelerate technology transfer to industry.
The event was attended by senior CSIR officials including CSIR-CCMB Director Dr Vinay K. Nandicoori, CSIR-NGRI Director Dr Prakash Kumar, CSIR-NEERI Director Dr S. Venkata Mohan, and CDFD Director Prof. Ullas Kolthur-Seetharam, along with researchers, students and industry representatives.
