Ahmedabad Cover Story
STI Policy 2026–2031 to again 100-plus deep-tech tasks a 12 months, nurture 1 lakh researchers
In a decisive push to place Gujarat on the reducing fringe of know-how, the state authorities has introduced a Rs 1,000-crore Swadeshi Anusandhan Fund to gasoline home-grown analysis in synthetic intelligence and semiconductors.
The fund will anchor indigenous analysis throughout essential and frontier sectors, together with AI, semiconductors, quantum applied sciences, biotechnology, inexperienced power, defence applied sciences, immersive applied sciences and house sciences.
The announcement kinds a part of the brand new Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) Policy 2026–2031, unveiled by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel through the inaugural session of the Gujarat SemiConnect Conference 2026 within the metropolis on Sunday.
Under the brand new framework, the fund is anticipated to help greater than 100 high-impact analysis tasks yearly, catalysing breakthroughs in deep-tech domains and accelerating the creation of worldwide aggressive mental property.
Regional innovation clusters
The coverage additionally proposes the creation of Gujarat Rajya Research & Innovation Clusters (GRRIC), envisaged as a complete science and know-how community. The initiative will start within the Gandhinagar–Ahmedabad area earlier than increasing to the Vadodara–Surat and Rajkot–Bhavnagar–Junagadh–Jamnagar corridors.
Each cluster will home superior innovation and R&D hubs with shared laboratories, testing amenities and trade–academia collaboration platforms geared toward seamless data trade and sooner commercialisation.
Building analysis muscle
Recognising that expertise underpins innovation, the state has set an bold goal of nurturing 1,00,000 expert researchers by 2030.
Key initiatives embody 250 annual JRF, SRF and PDF fellowships, devoted Women in Innovation Fellowship, the launch of a unified Gujarat R&D portal and large-scale STEM engagement programmes for younger folks throughout the state.
The coverage additionally stresses public outreach and scientific literacy. Plans embody increasing STEM studying centres, strengthening Science City and regional and district science centres, and deploying cellular science laboratories to attain grassroots communities. Immersive, experiential studying areas are anticipated to foster curiosity, creativity and demanding pondering amongst college students.
Global competitiveness in focus
To sharpen Gujarat’s world edge, the state will set up greater than 200 IP Facilitation Centres and goal over 1,000 mental property filings yearly, together with at the least 500 patents. The transfer is designed to deepen trade–academia collaboration and embed a tradition of innovation-led development.
The authorities will progressively elevate STI expenditure to 1% of GSDP by 2030 and mandate a 1% R&D allocation throughout state departments. Corporate Social Responsibility assets may even be channelled to help analysis, innovation and start-up ecosystems.
The Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, will function the nodal authority for implementation. The Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST) will act because the executing company beneath the oversight of the Gujarat State Research Foundation and with steering from a technical advisory committee of eminent specialists.