Kolkata Hosts 6th RISE Conclave to Boost Tier-2 and Tier-3 Startups

Kolkata: The 6th RISE Conclave 2026 was inaugurated at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB) in Salt Lake, Kolkata, focusing on accelerating the journey of indigenous technology from research labs to markets. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology and other portfolios, emphasized the growing need to recognize the innovative potential of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, noting that over 50 to 60 percent of Indian startups are located outside metropolitan areas. He highlighted the importance of strengthening links between science, startups, and industry to ensure research translates into commercial and social applications.

The conclave brought together representatives from startups, industry, research institutions including CSIR labs, IIT Kharagpur, IISER Kolkata, NIT Durgapur, and government departments. Around 150 startups participated, with discussions held in eight panels involving 67 experts on topics such as medicine discovery, affordable healthcare, MSME innovation, carbon emission reduction in steel and aluminum, and science-based startups. The event featured eight MoUs, four technology transfers, two product launches, and infrastructure inaugurations. Dr. Singh also highlighted the government’s ₹1 lakh crore RDI Fund and the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in fostering high-risk, high-potential research and partnerships among academia, startups, and industry.