IISc’s FSID Boosts India’s Deep Tech Innovation Drive

Located within the scenic grounds of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) is engaged in advanced scientific research, aiming at innovative product development, all in collaboration with the Indian industry.

While senior government ministers are urging Indian startups to focus on creating 'Deep Tech' innovations and products—an area where China has made significant advancements—FSID, a non-profit organization affiliated with IISc, is steadily enhancing India's capabilities in advanced technology and products.

In a conversation with ET Infra, Yogesh Pandit, Director (Product Acceleration) at FSID, emphasized that leveraging the scientific research and development expertise from IISc, FSID is assisting companies in creating products that are marketable and commercially viable.

FSID has two divisions, the research-focused CORE Labs and the STEM Cell, which emphasizes deep science incubation, both leading efforts on ‘Deep Tech’ solutions alongside the industry. At CORE Labs, FSID offers a platform for joint research, while at STEM Cell, it facilitates access to IISc laboratories, seed financing, operational funds, and debt funding via partners, among other resources.

"Once we acquired the knowledge, we initiated the product accelerator programme named Pravriddhi, which is focused on various sectors," stated Pandit, noting that the programme has encompassed product development involving rotating machines pertinent to the capital goods sector, machine tools, textiles, and the advancement of electric vehicles.

Pravriddhi, as an accelerator program, is conducted by FSID in collaboration with businesses, investors, and academic institutions to speed up market-oriented innovations. The FSID model closely resembles the innovation and incubation centers found in affluent Western universities like Harvard and MIT, where scientific research and its applications are developed into commercially viable products in collaboration with the industry.

Pandit emphasized that the FSID model granting access to 'Deep Science' and 'Deep Tech' for industry is crucial for enhancing the nation's R&D capabilities, especially as India falls behind other developed nations in technology funding.

In the upcoming future, FSID intends to explore more intricate technology-based product development, with a focus on developing advanced sensors for the aviation industry as well.