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.