The NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (TBI) team from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) participated in the inaugural day of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2025, held at Panchkula. The team attended an interaction session at the Golden Jubilee Hall, where policymakers, innovation leaders, scientists, and startup founders deliberated on building a self-reliant, innovation-driven economy.
At the session, Mr Gurinder Singh, CEO of NIDHI-TBI, shared his perspective on enhancing public–private partnerships, fostering science-led entrepreneurship, and strengthening the pipeline for technology transfer from laboratories to industry. He highlighted the significance of nurturing deep-tech and biotech startups aligned with national priorities of sustainability, self-reliance, and societal advancement. This agenda closely reflected IISF’s mission to position science as a catalyst for transformative growth.
IISF 2025, organised from December 6 to 9 in Panchkula, is one of India’s landmark science outreach events. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in association with agencies such as the Department of Science & Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), with outreach support from Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA).
Dr Ramandeep Singh, Principal Investigator, NIDHI-TBI and Director, SBS, remarked that participation in IISF signifies a meaningful interface between PAU’s incubation ecosystem and the national science–innovation landscape. “At a time when India is steering towards technology-led growth, the presence of incubators, startups, and collaborative platforms is critical in converting scientific research into societal outcomes,” he noted.
Reflecting on the visit, Dr Poonam A. Sachdev, Co-PI, NIDHI-TBI, and Principal Food Technologist, FST, appreciated the exposure gained through the event. She emphasised that large-scale platforms such as IISF offer valuable opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration, thereby enriching PAU’s innovation initiatives and future projects.
Dr Baljit Singh, Head, Food Science and Technology, lauded the team’s initiative and said that the engagement showcases NIDHI-TBI’s commitment to strengthening innovation culture, encouraging scientific inquiry, and forging robust academia–industry connect for future growth.