Blitz Bureau
Delhi NCR is emerging as a major cluster of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The “One Delhi” digital transit application has garnered over 3 lakh users. A new digital marketplace for artisans which uses the power of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) has been created in the form of Kalaanubhav.in. Several impactful solutions are being created in the health-tech space such as diabetic foot screening foot-mats, One Health initiative, development of pacemaker leads at AMTZ Vizag and e-waste management solutions. All these are the powerful outcomes of a cluster-based innovations in science and technology and they underscore the scalable and high-impact potential of the clusters’ collaborative efforts.
These examples form part of the “Science and Technology (S&T) Clusters Annual Report 2024-2025 which was released by Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, on June 26 in New Delhi. Present on this occasion was Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, along with all the Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Principal Investigators of the Clusters, and the S&T Clusters team at OPSA.
The S&T Clusters initiative, a flagship programme of Office of PSA, was launched in 2020 based on the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). These clusters aim to bring together stakeholders, like academic institutions, Research & Development (R&D) organisations, industry, start-ups, and local governments, to deliver demand-driven solutions through innovative ideas.
The Clusters aim to bring together key stakeholders including academic institutions, R&D organisations, industry, start-ups, and local governments, combining their shared innovative ideas to develop demand-driven solutions. Operating through a consortium-based model, the focus of S&T Clusters is to address regional challenges through science and technology-led solutions, while aligning with national priorities under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.