Driving Aatmanirbhar Bharat through Science & Technology Clusters

To realize Prime Minister’s vision of AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the Office of PSA to the GoI has spearheaded Science and Technology Clusters, fostering collaboration across academia, research labs, government, industry, and international institutions. A flagship initiative under PM-STIAC, these clusters in Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Bhubaneswar are revolutionizing India’s innovation ecosystem. Through groundbreaking research, technology commercialization, and a robust culture of innovation, S&T Clusters are propelling India toward economic prosperity and global leadership in S&T.

DRIIV, the umbrella body of the Delhi S&T Cluster, exemplifies the power of collective action by fostering impactful collaborations across sectors. With a premier network of 100+ ecosystem partners, including institutions like IIT Delhi, AIIMS, and CSIR labs; industry stakeholders ranging from PSUs (AAI, OIL etc.) and corporates (M3M Foundation, Google, TATA Power, Ather Energy etc.) to MSMEs and startups; and government bodies (e.g., MoEFCC, CPCB, MeitY, DJB, Municipal Corporations, DTC etc.), DRIIV has become a hub for synergistic partnerships. Its mission to address critical challenges through sustainable, transformative solutions aligns with national priorities and global aspirations.

DRIIV is fostering a thriving ecosystem of collaboration, uniting diverse stakeholders to drive impactful innovations. By catalyzing synergies among cluster members, it empowers industries, academia, and policymakers to co-create solutions addressing critical challenges. DRIIV’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation ensures a robust collective capable of delivering transformative outcomes. As a platform for partnerships, it nurtures impactful ideas, advancing India’s progress in key sectors while promoting sustainable development. Together, this strengthened network serves as a powerful vehicle for impactful change.

For any initiative to create impact, multi-stakeholder engagement is vital and DRIIV has been working towards a common goal of India's global aspirations and identification of levers of growth for bridging the gaps. DRIIV has been demonstrating the ability to forge collaborations across multiple stakeholders to work on scalable solutions for environmental and societal issues. Their focus on attracting private capital for complementing govt's R&D spend, mobilizing public bodies and corporates to adopt technology solutions for sustainability initiatives and creating an innovation ecosystem for research-based startups is palpable.

DRIIV CEO & MD describes the journey of the Cluster which exemplifies the power of a robust innovation pipeline, where scalable pilots, strategic co-creation, and indigenization with industry partners drive transformative solutions. Leveraging its extensive network, DRIIV mobilizes private capital and fosters collaborations to advance critical technologies. Key initiatives include positioning CARO as an aviation innovation hub with AAI, promoting environmental sustainability through the Green Fellowship (MASHAAL) with M3M Foundation, and anchoring the Indo-Danish Plastic Innovation Network to combat plastic waste. Projects like oil sludge treatment with Oil India Limited and battery R&D with Ather Energy further underscore DRIIV’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and impactful partnerships.