I-STEM (Indian Science, Technology, and Engineering facilities Map), an initiative from the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, is launching ‘One District, One Equipment’ to ensure that every district in the country has access to scientific equipment.
The initiative is set to launch on Friday (28th February 2025), in celebration of National Science Day. According to I-STEM data, over ₹1,500 crore worth of lab equipment in scientific and educational institutions across India—already listed on the I-STEM portal—remains unutilized due to various factors.
Institutions that actively optimize equipment availability not only accelerate research but also boost India’s Global Innovation Index ranking.
This revolutionary program aims to connect researchers, startups, and industries with a vast network of labs and equipment across diverse sectors through an I-STEM-operated portal. It provides a platform for academic institutions to register their scientific equipment that can be rented by Start-ups, Industry, entrepreneurs and researchers
This will save the researchers, industry and start-ups the prohibitive capital expenditure of purchasing advanced equipment. At the National level, this prevents the duplication of scarce resources in the research institutions.
Highlighting the need for such initiatives, Dr. Harilal Bhaskar, Chief Operating Officer and National Coordinator, I-STEM, said, “Equipment gathering dust in labs is not just wasted funds but a waste of potential innovation and research that could fuel the Nation’s growth.”
Issuing a call for action, Dr. Harilal Bhaskar added, “I-STEM proposes that academic institutions across the country be mandated to allocate at least 30% of their total lab time for external users, including startups, industries, and rural innovators. I-STEM can facilitate this initiative through its portal, which both Industry and academic institutions can use. We also propose linking compliance of this proposal with rankings and funding eligibility.”
‘CRITICAL GAPS’
According to data available with I-STEM, institutions across 167 out of 192 districts have been onboarded onto the I-STEM portal. However, many fail to respond to researchers seeking access to scientific equipment. Additionally, they face various challenges in supporting researchers, which hinders R&D progress, impacts India’s Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking, and slows down innovation in startups and industries.
India’s I-STEM portal was designed to democratize access to lab infrastructure. However, it faces systemic non-compliance issues as only 1.1% of 26,737 registered equipment is frequently used.
I-STEM portal has the potential to revolutionize lab infrastructure utilization but institutions must take proactive steps to unlock their full potential.
I-STEM’s vision extends far beyond the realm of energy. The initiative welcomes collaborations with private and state government-funded labs across various scientific domains, including biotechnology, immunology, material science, nanotechnology, and more. This collaborative effort will redefine the landscape of scientific and engineering facilities nationwide
