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.
Manthan has received Industry and International recognition in the past two years as mentioned below:
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.
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:-.
Opportunity creation that includes a call for early stage innovation, market-ready innovation, implementation projects, COE, Fellowships, etc.
Submitting proposals for collaboration, R&D and proposals submission against opportunities.
Innovation Exhibition—showcasing innovations like a virtual expo; partners can organise an exhibition.
Conference/Meeting Facility—providing a space for collaboration using virtual meeting rooms for organizing webinars, conferences, stakeholder consultations, etc.
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.
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)
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.
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.