Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Says RISE Conclave Puts Spotlight on India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 Startup Powerhouse

The 6th RISE Conclave 2026, inaugurated by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on September 6-7 at CSIR-IICB, Kolkata, marks a pivotal moment in India's journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047. This event is not merely a conference but a strategic intervention in the country's innovation architecture. Historically, India's startup ecosystem was concentrated in metropolitan hubs like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR. However, Dr Singh's revelation that 50-60% of startups now originate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities signals a profound decentralization of innovation - a trend aligned with the constitutional vision of equitable development under Article 39(b) and (c), which direct the state to prevent concentration of wealth and ensure material resources serve the common good. The conclave's organization by four CSIR laboratories - CGCRI, IICB, CMERI, and IMMT - under the 4M framework (Minerals, Medicine, Materials, Machines) reflects the Whole-of-Government approach evolving into a Whole-of-Science paradigm. This convergence brings together the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and CSIR - creating a knowledge corridor in eastern India linking IIT Kharagpur, IISER Kolkata, NIT Durgapur, and Atal Tinkering Labs. Such institutional synergy is critical for implementing the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023, which aims to seed high-risk, high-reward research through a ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund, with 72% expected from non-government sources. Kolkata's selection as venue carries deep symbolic weight. The city's scientific legacy - from Sir C.V. Raman's Nobel-winning work at IACS to Prof. U.N. Brahmachari's urea stibamine for kala-azar, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy's institution-building, and Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee's educational reforms - represents a continuum that the conclave seeks to revive. Eastern India's industrial base in steel (SAIL, Tata Steel), aluminium (Hindalco), mining (CIL), jute, and emerging IT sectors provides natural partners for technology commercialization. The concrete outcomes - 8 MoUs, 4 technology transfers, 2 product launches, 1 facility inauguration, and CGCRI's new branding - demonstrate the lab-to-market transition in action. With 150 startups, 300 founders, and 150 incubation delegates participating across 8 panel discussions (67 panelists) covering drug discovery, decarbonisation of steel/aluminium, critical minerals, and traditional wisdom-modern innovation fusion, the conclave operationalizes the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision in strategic sectors. Significantly, the opening of space, nuclear energy, and biotechnology to private participation - enabled by reforms like the Indian Space Policy 2023, Atomic Energy Act amendments, and BioE3 Policy - creates new frontiers for startups. Dr Singh's call for industry to adopt indigenous technologies addresses the 'valley of death' in innovation where research fails to reach markets. The emphasis on science communication in accessible languages reflects the constitutional duty under Article 51A(h) to develop scientific temper. Future implications are transformative: if this model replicates across regions, India could achieve distributed innovation ecosystems, reduce regional disparities, and leverage its demographic dividend. The RISE platform's rotation across Mumbai, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and now Kolkata institutionalizes geographic inclusivity. For Viksit Bharat 2047, the integration of historic scientific legacy with frontier technologies, powered by startup agility and industrial scale, may well define India's next leap.