The “National SAMAVESHA 2026” was organised at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in collaboration with I-STEM, the Delhi Science and Technology (S&T) Cluster (DRIIV) and the Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi. The event brought together representatives from 14 ministries and departments along with researchers, scientists, academicians, entrepreneurs and policy leaders from across India’s research and innovation ecosystem. The event was graced by Dr. (Mrs.) Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA, as the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries included Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi; Prof. Ambuj Sagar, Acting CEO, DRIIV; Prof. Rajendra Singh, Associate Dean (R&D), IIT Delhi; Dr. Vishal Choudhary, Scientist-F, Office of PSA; and Dr. Harilal Bhaskar, COO/National Coordinator, I-STEM.

Supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, I-STEM has developed into a national digital platform that enables discovery and shared access to advanced scientific instruments and facilities across institutions. The event highlighted successful models emerging from the I-STEM ecosystem and encouraged wider participation in strengthening shared research infrastructure across the country.

In her address as chief guest, Dr. Parvinder Maini highlighted the synergy between the DRIIV Cluster and I-STEM in strengthening India’s research ecosystem. She noted that access to advanced testing and validation infrastructure is critical for emerging technology development. She also stated that the initiative complements the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative by linking access to global scholarly knowledge with shared scientific instrumentation. The initiative also aligns with the vision of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to improve utilisation of high-end research infrastructure and expand opportunities across institutions, including those in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. She further highlighted I-STEM’s role in capacity building and in supporting startups and MSMEs through access to advanced testing and analytical facilities.

Delivering the inaugural address, Prof. Rangan Banerjee emphasised the importance of a unified national ecosystem for shared access to high-end scientific equipment. He noted that such infrastructure is essential for strengthening research and innovation across institutions. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ambuj Sagar highlighted the role of S&T clusters in translating research outcomes into deployable solutions. He noted that clusters such as DRIIV operate at the interface of academia, government and industry to accelerate technology development and deployment. Providing an overview of the initiative, Dr. Vishal Choudhary highlighted the growth of I-STEM since its launch in 2020 under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). He noted that the platform now integrates more than 30,000 scientific instruments across over 3,400 institutions and 14 ministries, with over 55,000 registered users. The platform addresses challenges of infrastructure fragmentation and underutilisation by enabling transparent discovery and shared access to facilities.

During the inaugural session, Dr. Parvinder Maini released the I-STEM Catalogue, PRISM+ Portal User’s Handbook, and the I-STEM Software Portal. The Founding Stewards of the Public Research Access initiative, OpenTheLab, were also felicitated for their contributions towards strengthening shared scientific infrastructure. The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Rajendra Singh. The event also included a detailed presentation on I-STEM initiatives and national impact by Dr. Harilal Bhaskar, followed by a live demonstration of the I-STEM portal. The event also recognised institutions and individuals through the I-STEM Excellence Awards for their contributions to the shared infrastructure movement.

SAMAVESHA 2026 served as an important platform for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge exchange across the research community. The discussions highlighted the importance of coordinated national efforts to strengthen research infrastructure and accelerate the translation of scientific advancements into real-world technological solutions.

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MJPS/ST

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