Indian Economy News

Office of Principal Scientific Adviser and DPIIT Launch API Integration between Startup India and I-STEM Portals

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, in collaboration with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), launched an application programming interface (API) integration between the Startup India Portal and the Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) Portal on November 6, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen the linkages between India's startup ecosystem and national research infrastructure by enabling DPIIT-recognised startups to discover and access existing scientific, testing and research facilities. Chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the launch focused on improving access to specialised infrastructure for deep-tech startups, supporting technology development, prototyping, testing and validation. The integration is also expected to lower research and development costs, reduce duplication of capital-intensive facilities and improve the utilisation of publicly funded scientific infrastructure.

The API-enabled integration will allow startups to discover scientific equipment and research facilities through the Startup India Portal, with automated verification of DPIIT recognition status and streamlined onboarding. Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality is proposed for subsequent phases. Access requests will continue to be assessed and approved by the respective host institutions based on technical suitability, availability, applicable charges, safety requirements and institutional permissions. As of November 6, 2026, the I-STEM Portal listed 31,540 equipment items across 4,044 registered institutions, offering a substantial national resource base for researchers and innovators. The initiative brings together the institutional capabilities of DPIIT and the Office of the PSA to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and support innovation. Wider participation by research facilities, regular updates to infrastructure information and continued engagement with startups and host institutions will be important to expand its reach and support the development of technology-based solutions.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.