05 November 2026 : The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) India office has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Science & Technology (S&T)
Clusters under the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the
Government of India, marking an important step towards strengthening RSC’s
engagement with India’s growing research, innovation and technology ecosystem across
academia, industry and start-ups.
The partnership will create joint
opportunities for RSC and the eight S&T Clusters across different states in
India, to work with local governments, academic institutions, industry,
start-ups and research organisations. The collaboration aims to facilitate
knowledge exchange, strengthen research capabilities, expand access to global
scientific knowledge and resources, and develop regional initiatives to support
women in STEM. The partnership will also explore opportunities to support
India’s start-up ecosystem, particularly in advancing research from the
laboratory to the marketplace, helping bridge the gap between scientific
discovery and innovation.
During his special address, Dr
Vishal Choudhary, Scientist 'F' and the nodal officer for Science and
Technology (S&T) Clusters in the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser
to the Government of India underscored the critical role of S&T Clusters in
accelerating the innovation ecosystem by translating research into impactful,
scalable solutions aligned with national missions. He highlighted the
transformative potential of the Indian S&T Cluster ecosystem in addressing
pressing societal and environmental challenges, while driving sustainable
development. The essence of his speech was reflected in Sanhati
Karyasadhika “Collaboration leads to the accomplishment of tasks.”
Mr Paul French, Chief Commercial Officer, RSC UK, said: “India is a growing and
important force in the global science landscape and this partnership presents
an exciting opportunity for the Royal Society of Chemistry to deepen its
engagement with the research and innovation ecosystem to support scientific
advancement.”
Dr Venkatesh Sarvasiddhi, Managing Director, RSC India & South Asia, highlighted
importance of the MoU for the Royal Society of Chemistry. He said: “This MOU
will establish a strategic partnership with the Science & Technology
Clusters. This collaboration will strengthen RSC’s engagement across the
clusters, creating opportunities to create initiatives and projects to support
science to drive innovation, research excellence and sustainable growth across
their respective regions.”
The event was hosted by DRIIV
(Delhi Research Implementation and Innovation / Delhi Science and Technology
Cluster) at their office at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and was
represented by all the clusters virtually.
Notes for editors: About the Royal
Society of Chemistry
We work at the heart of the chemical
sciences community to create a future that is more open, more green, and more
equal. Together, we’re helping chemistry to change the world.
We enable exciting progress that would be
otherwise impossible. As an independent catalyst for change, we connect people
and ideas through partnerships, conferences, events and networks that span the
globe.
We publish scientists’ discoveries and
insights so they can be used to improve our health, environment and lifestyles.
And we’re transforming how we do that with a commitment to open access:
everyone, everywhere, should have the same potential to read and share
knowledge.
We care about protecting our natural
environment, about tackling discrimination to build a truly inclusive world,
and about making cutting-edge chemistry accessible wherever it’s needed for the
good of society.
It’s all built upon and lifted up by our
diverse global membership, with every one of those 60,000 members bringing a
unique and valuable perspective. The chemical science community has the
knowledge, skills and passion to make those a reality – together, we’re
changing the world.
RSC India Media Contact:
Shweta Bhagat [BhagatS@rsc.org]
S&T Clusters
The Science and Technology (S&T)
Clusters initiative is a flagship program under the Office of the Principal
Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India, launched in 2020
following the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and
Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
This innovative initiative brings together
academic institutions, research & development (R&D) organizations,
industries, startups, and local governments, all aligned to solve regional
challenges with demand-driven, technology-led solutions. With a focus on
regional development and national priorities aligned with the vision of
“Atmanirbhar Bharat”, these Clusters create sustainable and scalable outcomes
through collaborative efforts.