Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science &Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh visited the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and inspected the interdisciplinary facility "SATHI" set up with the support of Department of Science & Technology, Govt of India.

The Minister complimented the Vice Chancellor Prof A.K. Chaturvedi and the faculty for having accomplished a success story for others to follow.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Department of Science & Technology (DST) is expanding scientific infrastructure and research support systems across universities and higher educational institutions to democratise access to advanced technology, innovation and scientific facilities in the country.

The Minister said initiatives such as SATHI, FIST, ARRF-linked research support mechanisms and other institutional programmes are helping build a strong ecosystem for research, innovation, start-ups and industry-academia collaboration, particularly for young researchers, MSMEs and emerging enterprises.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said DST’s outreach programmes are creating wider access to advanced scientific infrastructure and technical education across the country by strengthening innovation ecosystems in universities and research institutions. He said several universities and colleges are also being connected through space-related laboratories and research programmes to promote scientific temper, innovation-driven learning and emerging technology capabilities among students and young researchers.

Dr. Jitendra Singh visited the Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) for a comprehensive review of the facility, including its infrastructure, analytical capabilities, achievements and future roadmap. During the visit, the Minister was briefed on the functioning of the centre and also inspected major scientific equipment and high-end analytical facilities installed at the institute.

Senior officials of the Department of Science & Technology, Banaras Hindu University, scientists, faculty members and representatives from the SATHI Centre were present during the visit.

SATHI-BHU has been established with the support of nearly Rs. 72 crores from the Department of Science & Technology as a national-level shared scientific infrastructure facility providing access to advanced instrumentation, analytical services and technical expertise for academia, research institutions, industries, MSMEs and start-ups. The facility operates through a Section 8 company model within the university ecosystem and has developed into a major multidisciplinary analytical and research support centre.

The Minister said that strengthening scientific infrastructure in universities is essential for achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and making India globally competitive in emerging technologies and advanced research domains. He said the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently encouraged institutional research capacity, indigenous innovation and technology-led growth through targeted scientific interventions and collaborative research platforms.

Dr. Jitendra Singh was informed that SATHI-BHU houses several state-of-the-art facilities, including Super Resolution Confocal Microscopy with Live Cell Imaging, advanced NMR spectroscopy systems, High Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry, clean room facilities, electrochemical workstations, chromatography platforms and isotope analysis systems. These facilities are supporting research activities in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, semiconductors, food sciences, environmental sciences, biotechnology and advanced materials.

The Minister was also apprised that the centre has served nearly 1,100 users from academia, research institutions and industries, processed over 30,000 samples and trained around 1,000 researchers and stakeholders since becoming operational. Around 60 short-term training programmes have also been conducted for capacity building and user sensitisation.

The Minister appreciated the efforts made by SATHI-BHU in achieving NABL accreditation and developing a sustainable analytical services model with strong engagement from industry and research sectors. The facility has also contributed to high-impact research publications, patents and collaborative partnerships with national laboratories and industrial stakeholders, further strengthening the linkage between science, innovation and economic growth.

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