Tewari flags ‘meagre’ research funding for Chandigarh

MP Tewari had asked about the initiatives undertaken by Centre to promote scientific research, innovation hubs and technology incubation centres in Chandigarh; whether institutions in Chandigarh have received funding under various schemes

In an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari asked whether the Centre has undertaken any initiatives to promote scientific research, innovation hubs and technology incubation centres in Chandigarh.

MP Tewari further pointed out the lack of significant investment in fourth industrial revolution technologies such as robotics, genomics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductor research, and the Internet of Things. (File)

Replying, Union minister of state for science and technology Jitendra Singh said the Government of India has promoted scientific research, innovation and startup incubation across the country, including Chandigarh, through various programmes and schemes of department of science and technology (DST), department of biotechnology (DBT), council of scientific and industrial research (CSIR), Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and Startup India initiative.

MP Tewari further asked whether institutions in Chandigarh have received funding under various schemes. To which, Singh replied, the DBT during the last five years, has supported 35 R&D projects in Chandigarh. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a PSU of DBT, has established a BioNEST bio-incubator and an E-YUVA Centre at Panjab University. BIRAC has also supported seven start-ups under the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) scheme and 2 start-ups under the Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) fund in Chandigarh. The ANRF, meanwhile, has supported eight projects with funding of around ₹19.70 crore.

Key initiatives include the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Waste Management Technologies at Chitkara University and Technology Enabling Centres at Panjab University and Chitkara University. A Biomedical Instruments and Devices Hub has also been set up at PGIMER to boost translational research.

Reacting to the figures, MP Tewari said the overall spending in Chandigarh remained “very meagre.” He noted that the department of biotechnology had spent roughly ₹32 crore and the DST about ₹52 crore over the past five years. “Cumulatively, this translates to around ₹17–18 crore annually, which is a very modest amount. Globally, government support for research hubs runs into billions of dollars,” Tewari said. He further pointed out the lack of significant investment in fourth industrial revolution technologies such as robotics, genomics, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductor research, and the Internet of Things.

The Centre, however, maintained that it has taken steps to enhance industry–academia collaboration through incubators, startup support programmes, and mission-driven initiatives in sectors such as electric vehicles, MedTech, and artificial intelligence.

While funding is extended based on merit-driven proposals, the data suggests that Chandigarh’s evolution as a major research and innovation hub remains gradual rather than transformative.