CSIR–NIIST Transfers 11 Technologies in Major Lab-to-Market Push

The Director General pointed to the establishment of the CSIR–NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub, designed to foster collaboration with startups, MSMEs and industry partners.

The CSIR–National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR–NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, marked a significant step in accelerating technology commercialization with the transfer of 11 technologies and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the “CSIR–NIIST Tech Connect: Lab to Market” event held at CSIR Headquarters in New Delhi.

The programme underscored the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) strategic pivot toward market-driven innovation, reinforcing its mission to convert laboratory breakthroughs into scalable industrial solutions aligned with national priorities.

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From “R&D” to “R&D Innovation”

Addressing industry leaders and researchers, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR, Dr. (Mrs.) N. Kalaiselvi, emphasized the need to move beyond traditional research and development models.

She called for a shift toward “R&D Innovation,” where research begins with clearly identified market needs and works backward to design solutions that are validated, scalable and commercially viable.

“Research institutions must focus not only on knowledge generation but also on translation, validation, scalability and commercialization,” she said, stressing that technology transfer is now a core institutional mandate.

Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted CSIR–NIIST’s expanding interdisciplinary innovation ecosystem, spanning:

• Biosciences and bioengineering

• Ayurveda research

• Artificial intelligence applications

• Sustainable materials

• Green hydrogen-enabled bio-manufacturing

She also noted the importance of increasing external revenue streams and non-governmental funding as part of a broader commercialization-driven growth strategy.

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Innovation Hub to Strengthen Industry Partnerships

The Director General pointed to the establishment of the CSIR–NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub, designed to foster collaboration with startups, MSMEs and industry partners.

Focus sectors include:

• Sustainable packaging

• Spice incubation

• Coir and rubber technologies

• Green hydrogen applications

The move reflects CSIR’s effort to strengthen India’s self-reliance agenda while boosting nutrition security and sustainable industrial development.

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Key Technologies Transferred

Among the headline innovations transferred to industry were:

High-Protein, Low Glycaemic Index Rice

Enriched with iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12, the rice varieties are designed to address anaemia and diabetes concerns while maintaining cooking quality and taste. The technology represents a significant advance in functional foods and public health nutrition.

Instant Coffee Foam Technology

A novel formulation capable of sustaining stable foam at high temperatures without milk addition — offering potential applications in premium instant beverage products.

Low-Sodium Salt Technology

A formulation achieving significant sodium reduction, aimed at supporting cardiovascular health. An MoU was signed to advance collaborative research and large-scale commercialization.

Other transferred technologies included:

• Cardanol polyol-based polyurethane dispersions

• Osmotic dehydration processes

• Ready-to-cook vegetable mixes

• Fruit roll technologies

• Composting bio medium (JAIVAM)

• Vegan leather

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Stronger Commercialization Ecosystem

Director of CSIR–NIIST, Dr. C. Anandharamakrishnan, described the event as a “festival of technology transfers,” reflecting the institute’s growing national footprint and strengthened industry visibility.

He highlighted notable performance gains, including:

• Increased external revenue generation

• Higher volumes of technology transfers

• Growth in industry and CSR-funded projects

• Expanded research output

He explained that NIIST has consciously shifted from traditional research pipelines to market-oriented product design, with technologies refined in partnership with industry even after transfer.

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NRDC Expands Role in Technology Translation

Chairman & Managing Director of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), Commodore Amit Rastogi (Retd), emphasized the renewed synergy between CSIR and NRDC in driving commercialization.

He reported that over the past two years, NRDC has commercialized a substantial number of CSIR technologies, generating significant royalty and premium revenues.

Beyond conventional licensing, NRDC now supports:

• Incubation infrastructure

• Technology readiness level (NETRA) assessment

• Design clinics and system engineering

• Financial assistance up to ₹1 crore for technology development

• Seed funding and IP facilitation

Rastogi also outlined plans for a National Technology Translation Organization and an AI-enabled technology exchange platform to accelerate conversion of research outputs into market-ready products.

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Strengthening India’s Lab-to-Market Pipeline

With 11 technologies transferred and one MoU signed, the event demonstrated CSIR–NIIST’s sharpened focus on industry engagement and innovation-led growth.

The strong participation of industry leaders, researchers and media highlighted growing confidence in India’s research-to-commercialization ecosystem.

The initiative signals a broader transformation within CSIR — positioning translational research, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration at the heart of India’s scientific advancement and economic development strategy.