What happened at the 6th RISE Conclave (CSIR-IICB, Kolkata)
Dr. Jitendra Singh called for a fundamental shift in how industry and research institutions work together. He argued that commercial partners should be identified and associated from the project-planning stage, not after laboratory work is partly or fully completed.
At CSIR-IICB, Kolkata, during interactions with CEOs, CSOs, and COOs of industries, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that early participation would let industry bring inputs on market requirements, practical feasibility, design needs, environmental sustainability, supply-chain requirements, and commercial viability. He also argued that a technology should not reach the market only to find that it needs modification to fit actual user requirements.
Industry participants discussed several technology areas. Critical minerals and indigenous technology were key focus areas, including rare-earth extraction, permanent magnets, recycling, lithium beneficiation, and recovery of strategic minerals such as vanadium and titanium. Participants also discussed exploration possibilities for rare earths and other critical minerals in eastern India. Industry representatives sought CSIR laboratory “hand-holding” for scaling these technologies, and Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised leveraging capabilities developed across CSIR institutions and other government scientific agencies.
The interaction also covered space technology and specialised optical components. Dr. Jitendra Singh sought relevant details and indicated that the space-related matter could be taken up with the Department of Space. He stated that regulatory simplification had already been undertaken and invited further specific inputs from industry for consideration.