National Workshop at Gujarat Science City Sets Stage for Grassroots Innovation Revolution

Gandhinagar | Gujarat — Gujarat Science City witnessed a significant push for India’s innovation ecosystem as the National Workshop on Grassroots Innovation Pathway: From Local Resilience to National Advancements was inaugurated with the presence of Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh and Gujarat Science and Technology Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia.

Organised jointly by the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology and the National Innovation Foundation, the two-day workshop (May 19–20, 2026) aims to bridge the gap between rural creativity and national-level technological advancement by identifying, validating, and scaling grassroots innovations.

In his inaugural address, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted India’s growing innovation potential, stating, “More than half of India’s successful startups today are emerging from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Our task is to convert local creativity into institutional innovation with support from government, private sector, and investors.” He added that platforms like PM Vishwakarma Yojana are vital in linking traditional skills with modern technology to boost employment and development.

Gujarat Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia said that India’s innovation landscape has transformed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that grassroots knowledge from farmers, artisans, and rural communities must be preserved and upgraded through design and market integration. “Traditional innovation, like rural spinning machines or Patan Patola weaving, holds immense national value if properly supported,” he said.

The workshop brings together around 200 delegates, including scientists, incubators, and policymakers. Key figures such as Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, and Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe delivered keynote addresses focusing on scaling local innovations and strengthening inter-state collaboration.

Experts emphasized building a structured ecosystem for incubation, intellectual property protection, and funding support to ensure grassroots ideas evolve into scalable national solutions aligned with India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.