PSA Office signs R&D MoU with FICCI to bridge industry-academia gap
The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on Wednesday, 6 May at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi, aimed at building a robust research and development ecosystem by bridging the gap between industry, academia, and research institutions across India.
What the MoU Covers
The agreement is designed to promote research, its translation, and commercialisation, while fostering strategic partnerships and supporting policy dialogue. According to officials, the MoU will enable structured engagement and connect all stakeholders across India's R&D ecosystem to deliver tangible, measurable outcomes. The initiative also seeks to link industries with academic institutions in a more systematic manner than previous bilateral efforts.
What the Principal Scientific Adviser Said
Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood underscored the importance of technology diffusion in generating new ideas, products, and processes across sectors. He specifically called for scaling high-tech priority areas such as solar energy and green batteries. Prof. Sood noted that the government-enabled Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund already supports industries and startups, and described the MoU as
