The valedictory ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR–NIIST), under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, will be held on October 15, 2025, at the institute’s campus in Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, will be the Chief Guest, announced Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director of CSIR–NIIST, at a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram.

As part of the ceremony, Dr. Singh will inaugurate the newly constructed Golden Jubilee Innovation Centre, designed to promote innovation-driven entrepreneurship and strengthen industry partnerships. He will also inaugurate the Automated Nodal Hub for Deployment of Next-Generation Dye-Sensitized Light Harvesters and a new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Laboratory.

Dr. Anandharamakrishnan announced that NIIST has developed a nature-based purification system to address the recurring issues of algal bloom, fish mortality, and unpleasant odour in the sacred Padmatheertha Pond near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The system will be continuously monitored for a year before being scaled to other urban water bodies across the country.

The valedictory event will also witness the signing of several technology transfer agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs). To tackle wastewater management issues faced by Kerala’s houseboat industry, NIIST will sign an MoU with the Kerala Houseboat Owners Federation, in collaboration with the Suchitwa Mission and the Pollution Control Board, to develop onboard and offboard waste treatment systems promoting sustainable tourism. An MoU with MRF Limited for smart tyre technology will enable the development of self-monitoring tyre systems. The Aluminium–Magnesium–Scandium alloys developed by NIIST will be transferred to Star Alucast, Mumbai, to support India’s aerospace and defence sectors.

The Union Minister will also inaugurate “Vidyut Svasthya”, a pedal-assisted exercise system that generates electricity from human kinetic energy and can be used to power devices such as laptops and mobile phones. The system, based on hybrid technology developed at NIIST, combines energy efficiency with personal health and sustainability.

Dr. Anandharamakrishnan further announced that the Kerala Government has allotted 10 acres of land to CSIR–NIIST at the Bio360 Life Sciences Park, Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram, for establishing a new Innovation Centre. The land, leased for 99 years, will house a Bio-Manufacturing Hub aimed at transforming scientific advancements into commercially viable solutions. The centre will serve as a modern facility for research, innovation, incubation, and industry collaboration, strengthening Kerala’s life sciences ecosystem. It will also support ongoing projects such as the Kerala Hydrogen Valley Project, which seeks to generate green hydrogen from wastewater using solar energy for the production of green ammonia and urea.

Spread across 10 acres, the new hub will focus on probiotics, bioactive foods, alternative proteins, nutraceuticals, and biopolymers, in addition to developing bio-based alternatives to plastics and leather. A regional resource development centre supporting Kerala’s traditional industries such as rubber, coir, and spices will also be established. The initiative is expected to position Kerala at the forefront of life sciences research and innovation, fostering sustainable technologies and creating new employment opportunities.

Dr. P. Nishi, Head of Business Development, and Dr. K.V. Radhakrishnan, Head of the Agro-Processing Division, also participated in the press conference.

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