Shri Amitabh Kant
Former CEO, NITI Aayog
India aims to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. Nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship is an essential component of achieving this growth target.
According to you, what is the role of NITI Aayog in catalysing science-based entrepreneurship?
India aims to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25. Nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship is an essential component of achieving this growth target. NITI Aayog has been instrumental in developing pro-innovation, light touch and progressive policies to encourage entrepreneurs to grow and prosper. Since the launch of our Start-up India movement, over 1,600 startups were added to the ecosystem in 2020. By developing innovative strategies and technology solutions, we support India in successfully clinching its leadership in all sectors including healthcare, education, financial inclusion and modernisation of agriculture.
What are some of the ways in which NITI Aayog is encouraging science-based entrepreneurship?
My belief is that the development of world-class start-ups requires skillful application of technology, mentorship and strategy. NITI Aayog supports such startups through its various AIM programmes by providing five critical inputs: flow of innovation via ambitious young entrepreneurs, supportive infrastructure, focused outreach, empowering strategies and enabling of the policy environment to encourage such start-ups and help them succeed.
What is your message to the scientists interested in creating societal impact based on their research?
In a large and diverse country like India, it is not only the introduction of new initiatives, but the ability to rapidly execute and to scale up existing programmes to reach out to our 1.3 billion citizens in both local and vernacular languages that will be crucial to achieving success. By bringing together technology and entrepreneurial promise, we must work towards the greater good. Through programmes like AIM-PRIME, we look forward to nurturing an innovative breed of socially-conscious and development-oriented scientists and entrepreneurs to build inclusive solutions that are scalable and available at affordable cost.
Explore More
Dr Suman Bery
VC, NITI Aayog
One of the objectives of NITI Aayog is to create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system
Dr V K Saraswat
Member, Niti Aayog
Science is a tool for solving our society’s problems and has the power to transform civilizations.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to Government of India
The Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA)
Dr Shekhar C Mande
Ex-Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
India has a rich history of science and technology.