Manthan

Manthan, derived from the Sanskrit word which means "churning of ideas," encapsulates the platform's core philosophy. Manthan is an initiative led by the Office of PSA which scales Science & Technology-based social impact and Industry research/innovations in India.

manthanimage

Introduction

The Strategic Alliance Division fosters collaborations to drive research and innovation with a wide range of partners, including the demand side i.e, Industry, Government agencies, multilateral and philanthropic organizations, and international bodies, and the Supply side i.e. Institutes, Startups, MSMEs, Civil Societies and Incubators. The division markets, sources lead, helps articulate problem statements on the platform ensuring research and innovations are demand-driven. In this manner, the division encourages cutting-edge research and development (R&D) of innovative and cost-effective technologies making a huge social and Industry impact. To scale the above collaborations a platform was archited.

Launch: PSA, GoI Prof Ajay Sood launched the platform on August 15, 2022, it is a digital platform that aims to promote collaboration between various stakeholders and the scientific research and development ecosystem to help meet India’s National Missions and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sharing Industry or philanthropic challenges or opportunities for partnerships on emerging technologies, other scientific interventions, as well as those with a social impact.

Accolades and Achievements

Manthan has received Industry and International recognition in the past two years as mentioned below:

achievements
Manthan platform won the ‘Dun & Bradstreet Business Excellence Award’ for the Besr Tech initiative of the year 2022
achivment2024
Manthan was selected for India for showcasing at the World Governments Summit 2024 under the theme of ‘Shaping Future Governments.’

The opportunities sourced by the division are in the form of research problem statements, internships, infrastructure, research projects, and market-ready innovations. Around 7889 crores+ (INR) worth of opportunities have been uploaded on the platform by various opportunity providers.

Objective

Manthan aims to empower various stakeholders to scale up their interactions with researchers and innovators and facilitate R&D/innovation and share challenges focused on emerging technologies and other scientific interventions, as well as those with a social impact. It also provides to focus on thematic areas i.e. Industry Research and development, Women In STEM, Science Communication, Government Challenges, International partnerships, RUTAG, Clusters etc. 

The objectives of Manthan are fulfilled through the following four pillars:-.

  • Pillar 1

    Opportunity creation that includes a call for early stage innovation, market-ready innovation, implementation projects, COE, Fellowships, etc.

  • Pillar 2

    Submitting proposals for collaboration, R&D and proposals submission against opportunities.

  • Pillar 3

    Innovation Exhibition—showcasing innovations like a virtual expo; partners can organise an exhibition.

  • Pillar 4

    Conference/Meeting Facility—providing a space for collaboration using virtual meeting rooms for organizing webinars, conferences, stakeholder consultations, etc.

Vision

Our vision is to position India as a global leader in science and innovation, driving forward the frontiers of knowledge, addressing societal and Industry challenges, and propelling inclusive growth. With a steadfast commitment to national development, we envision a future where India's prowess in science and innovation powers sustainable progress, enriching the lives of its citizens and contributing to solving global issues.

Who Does Manthan Benefit?

Industries

Embassies/ Other Governments

Coalitions/ Consortiums

Philanthropists

Multilaterals

Public Sector Units & Co-operatives

MSME Sector

Government – State & Central Line Ministries

Entrepreneurial Support Organizations

Research Institutes

Incubators & their Startups

Startup & SMEs

S&T Clusters, Centers of Excellence (CoEs)

How Does Manthan Work?

manthan-works

Manthan Process

Demand side partners upload their problem statements or opportunities on the Manthan Platform.

Problem Statement and Opportunities

Once a project is selected, the partnering institutions collaborate to develop new technologies and innovations.

Collaboration and Funding

Identifying Opportunities

The Strategic Alliance Division initiates the process by discussing potential projects with prospective partners.

Application and Selection

Partners evaluate applications from researchers, startups, and innovators for uploaded opportunities, selecting the most promising with assistance from platform subject matter experts.

Showcasing Successful Collaborations

The final step in the process involves showcasing successful collaborations on the platform. 

Centre for Excellence
Early Stage / Research and Development Innovation Projects
Industry Market Ready Innovation
Implementation Projects
School Innovation
Fellowships/Internships/Scholarships
Social Impact Opportunities
Women in STEM
Science Communication

The Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India has shared a vision for the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoEs). These CoEs are envisioned to be hubs of innovation and research, primarily focusing on sustainable technologies. Beyond mere academic exploration, they aim to bridge the gap between theoretical potential and practical implementation. By translating promising sustainable technologies into market-ready solutions, these centers will also foster the development of new, viable business models. This initiative underscores the government's commitment to championing sustainability, fostering technological advancement, and stimulating economic growth in a manner that aligns with global environmental and societal needs. 

The key pillars of a Center of Excellence are: -

 Pilllar-1: Technology screening from National and Global Ecosystem 

Pillar-2: Evaluation & Incubation of cohort of start-ups to work jointly with Researchers on shortlisted ideas. 

Pillar-3: Real-life scale testing and demo/expo and Pillar-4: Support to scale-up promising technologies, business, and skill development, developing microentrepreneurs.

        

 

Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence
– IIT Palakkad Industry Partners: Gates Foundation, HDFC Bank, IAPMO, Toilet Board Coalition, ERAM Scientific
Global Centre of Excellence in Affordable and Clean Energy
– (IIT Dharwad Industry Partners: Selco Foundation, Honeywell, Lowe’s, Infineon and
Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Air Quality Indicators (ATMAN)
– IIT Kanpur Industry Partners: Bloomberg, Clean Air Fund

Meet The Team

Members

Dr. Sapna Poti
Dr. Sapna PotiDirector, Strategic Alliances
Dr Himani Mishra
Dr Himani MishraConsultant
topbutton

Back to Top