Dr Jitendra Singh Inaugurates Four R&D Facilities At CSIR-IICT In Tarnaka

On Tuesday, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated four advanced research and development (R&D) facilities and laid the foundation stone for a new student hostel complex at the CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) in Tarnaka, Hyderabad. During the event, the minister highlighted India's shift toward converting agricultural waste into value-added products.

The newly initiated infrastructure projects are expected to drive economic growth, self-reliance, and technological development. Specifically, the minister laid the foundation stone for a ₹44.4 crore hostel complex designed to accommodate 200 students, which will significantly improve the residential facilities available for research scholars at the Tarnaka campus.

Among the four advanced R&D facilities inaugurated by Dr Singh is an advanced R&D facility for fluorochemicals. He also opened a 500 KLD decentralised effluent treatment plant dedicated to the Siripuram handloom cluster, a continuous processing platform for industrial chemicals, and the Sustainable Engineering Complex (SustEC).

Addressing scientists at the institute, Dr Singh explained that scientific research in the country is now moving beyond mere crop improvement. Instead, the focus is shifting toward developing advanced technologies that can successfully convert agricultural waste and residues into value-added products. This transition is expected to create new opportunities for farmers, MSMEs, and startups.

The minister stressed that establishing stronger partnerships between agricultural research and industry is crucial. According to Dr Singh, these collaborations will drive India’s next phase of economic growth by actively translating scientific innovation into practical and commercial use. He stated that India is steadily moving from being a technology adopter to becoming a technology developer, with science playing a key role in economic growth, self-reliance, and global competitiveness.