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Himachal Pradesh is looking to unlock nearly INR 25,000 crore in new economic opportunities by promoting science and technology-based innovations across agriculture, forestry, bio-economy, tourism, and hydropower. Speaking during the 'Atmanirbhar Yatra' regional outreach conference in Shimla, HIMCOSTE Member Secretary Pushpendra Rana highlighted the commercial potential of forest resources, biofuels, bamboo, and value-added products. The state is also considering the creation of an Innovation Fund to encourage research, startups, and technology commercialisation, while strengthening collaboration between research institutions, industries, and government agencies.
Himachal Pradesh has the potential to create new economic opportunities worth nearly INR 25,000 crore by using science and technology-based innovations across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, bio-economy, tourism, and hydropower, according to Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE) Member Secretary Pushpendra Rana.
Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the 'Atmanirbhar Yatra' – Himachal Chapter Regional Outreach Conference held in Shimla in the past week, Rana said that connecting technologies developed in laboratories with industries and markets could open new avenues for the state's economy and improve the commercial use of locally available resources.
He said a joint study conducted by HIMCOSTE and the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad on 13 key plant species found that the scientific commercialisation of wild fruits and other forest-based products alone could generate economic opportunities worth around INR 11,000 crore. The study assessed the value of forest resources and explored ways to improve their commercial utilisation through scientific interventions.
Rana further said there is an estimated economic potential of around INR 5,500 crore from the development of biofuels and other products derived from forest-based bio-resources. In addition, value addition and improved marketing of khair-based products could create opportunities worth nearly INR 5,000 crore.
He added that bamboo-based industries, construction materials, and biofuel-related activities together present an additional opportunity of about INR 700 crore, indicating significant scope for expanding forest-linked industries in the state.
To further strengthen the innovation ecosystem, Rana said the Department of Science and Technology is considering setting up an Innovation Fund to support research, innovation, and technology-led entrepreneurship at the state level. Such a fund is expected to help researchers and startups develop commercially viable technologies and encourage greater industry participation.
The outreach conference brought together more than 100 startups, industries, researchers, and innovators to promote indigenous technologies and encourage innovation-driven entrepreneurship in Himachal Pradesh. The event was jointly organised by HIMCOSTE and the Technology Development Board, under the Department of Science and Technology.
During the conference, Secretary of the Department of Environment, Science & Technology and Climate Change, Sushil Kumar Singla, said the initiative was aimed at connecting startups, industries, and research institutions in the state with various support schemes offered by the Technology Development Board. He added that the programme also focused on accelerating the commercialisation of indigenous technologies and strengthening collaboration between research organisations and industry.
The state government has been working to promote startup-led innovation through science and technology initiatives in recent years. With sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, forestry and renewable energy forming the backbone of Himachal Pradesh's economy, greater commercial adoption of research and technology is expected to improve value addition, create employment opportunities, and support sustainable economic growth.
Source PTI
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