ANI |
Updated: May 16, 2026 22:52 IST
New Delhi [India], May 16 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh on Saturday stated that quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sovereignty, together with indigenous ecosystems, will define India’s next-generation development.
According to a press launch issued by the Ministry of Science & Technology, the Minister stated India’s future development in deep-tech sectors will rely on the nation’s potential to undertake a trusted built-in method, and that is exactly what prompted the launch of the “Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund” Scheme, which is aimed toward accelerating personal sector participation in analysis and improvement. 
Addressing a programme organised by the Technology Development Board (TDB), Department of Science and Technology, at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, Jitendra Singh highlighted that India is transferring in the direction of a brand new part of innovation-driven development via coordinated initiatives in quantum applied sciences, deep-tech financing and industry-led analysis ecosystems.
During the programme, agreements for 5 initiatives beneath the RDI Fund Scheme had been signed, the primary digital fund disbursement beneath the scheme was launched, a compendium on the standing report of the RDI Scheme was launched, and a report on “Quantum-Safe Ecosystem in India” was formally launched.
Marking one other main milestone beneath the RDI framework, TDB additionally carried out the primary digital fund disbursement beneath the scheme. As a part of the preliminary tranche launch, Rs 50 crore was electronically transferred to M/s Eyestem Research Private Limited to assist the development and commercialisation of its indigenous cell remedy platform.
As per the official launch, “A Compendium on the Status Report of Technology Development Board (TDB) as the Second Level Fund Manager (SLFM) under RDI Scheme till April 2026 was also released during the programme. The compendium presents the progress achieved by TDB in operationalising the RDI Fund, encompassing details of proposals received, sector-wise distribution, project evaluation and appraisal mechanisms, approved projects, funding trends, and the Board’s sustained efforts towards enabling the commercialisation of high-impact cutting-edge indigenous technologies across strategic sectors.”
“The publication further highlights the emerging innovation landscape under the RDI initiative by showcasing projects spanning deep-tech, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, space technologies, healthcare, energy transition, climate technologies, and digital infrastructure, thereby reflecting the growing momentum of India’s research-to-commercialisation ecosystem,” the discharge stated.
Highlighting the significance of the RDI initiative, Jitendra Singh stated that the Government, beneath Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has adopted a number of out-of-the-box approaches to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem and create enabling situations for personal funding in analysis and improvement.
He famous that, not like typical fashions the place governments count on {industry} participation independently, India has adopted a proactive method by creating institutional and monetary assist mechanisms for private-sector-led innovation.
The Minister stated the initiative displays the Government’s dedication to creating an ecosystem the place startups, MSMEs and {industry} can emerge as long-term innovation companions.
Referring to the broader reforms undertaken in sectors similar to house and deep know-how, he stated the Government has persistently inspired institutional openness and stakeholder participation.
He famous that reforms within the house sector have demonstrated how strategic coverage interventions can unlock innovation and public participation in superior know-how sectors.
Jitendra Singh additionally highlighted the rising significance of quantum applied sciences and stated India is now among the many choose group of nations actively investing in quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum supplies beneath the National Quantum Mission.
He famous that India had initially set a goal of reaching 2,000 km quantum-secure communication functionality in eight years, however the nation has already achieved almost half that concentrate on in lower than 4 years, reflecting the tempo of progress beneath the Mission.
Emphasising the significance of future cybersecurity preparedness, the Minister acknowledged that rising quantum computing capabilities might pose important challenges to present cryptographic methods at the moment utilized in banking, governance, telecom and strategic infrastructure.
He famous that post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution and quantum-safe infrastructure will turn out to be crucial for long-term nationwide safety and trusted digital governance.
He additionally confused the necessity to make technical information extra accessible via digital platforms, AI-enabled outreach instruments and simplified communication codecs for innovators and startups.
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, described the RDI Fund as a probably transformative initiative able to catalysing large-scale personal funding in deep-tech analysis and innovation.
He highlighted that the implementation of the initiative inside a comparatively brief time displays the Government’s dedication to hurry and scale in coverage execution. Referring to the discharge of the “Quantum-Safe Ecosystem in India” report, he stated the nation should put together proactively for the “Q-Day” situation when present encryption methods might turn out to be weak to quantum computing capabilities.
He emphasised the necessity for nationwide preparedness in post-quantum cryptography, quantum-safe communication methods and safe digital infrastructure throughout sectors similar to finance, healthcare and governance.
Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Chairperson, TDB, Abhay Karandikar, highlighted that the RDI initiative represents one of the important authorities interventions aimed toward strengthening private-sector-led R&D in India.
He stated the implementation course of concerned intensive collaboration amongst specialists, funding committees, scientific establishments and {industry} stakeholders working voluntarily over a number of months to operationalise the initiative.
He expressed confidence that the RDI framework would assist crowd in personal capital funding, strengthen deep-tech innovation and assist the event of worldwide aggressive applied sciences and startups within the nation.
Secretary, TDB, Rajesh Kumar Pathak, highlighted the speedy operationalisation of the RDI initiative and acknowledged that TDB turned the primary Second Level Fund Manager to launch undertaking proposal calls, signal agreements and launch funds beneath the scheme. He knowledgeable that the initiative acquired 124 undertaking proposals inside a brief interval, representing undertaking demand price greater than Rs 25,000 crore.
He additionally famous that the chosen initiatives span startups, MSMEs and listed firms throughout sectors, together with well being, vitality, quantum applied sciences and superior manufacturing.
“The 22 companies selected by TDB for funding under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund are some of the best startups in the country, and some of them (15) have been selected through a nationwide search as part of the Bharat Innovates 2026, a global showcase of India’s Technology Innovation, scheduled to be held in Nice, France in June,” he added.
The programme additionally included the discharge of a compendium on the RDI Scheme standing report and discussions on strengthening India’s quantum-safe ecosystem via indigenous innovation, safe communication methods and collaborative know-how improvement frameworks.
The occasion concluded with a renewed dedication in the direction of accelerating India’s deep-tech innovation ecosystem in keeping with the imaginative and prescient of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.
The occasion was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Ajay Kumar Sood; Secretary, Department of Science & Technology and Chairperson, TDB, Abhay Karandikar; Secretary, TDB, Rajesh Kumar Pathak; senior officers, members of the TDB Board, funding committee members and representatives from {industry}, startups, and analysis establishments. (ANI)