The chief of India’s Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, argued at a New Delhi summit that foundational science supports technology, while a separate government initiative aims to widen research access.
Speaking at the Oct. 23 NDTV World Summit, Kalyanaraman said, “Without deep science, there is no deep tech,” according to NDTV. The official agenda listed him and Indian Institute of Science associate professor Duvvuri Subrahmanyam for a session titled “India And The Making Of A Research Superpower.” NDTV said the discussion covered research funding, advanced materials and aerospace.
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023, created ANRF to set direction for research in areas such as science, engineering, health and agriculture and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The law took effect Feb. 5, 2024, according to a government response to Parliament. The foundation lists work to bring research closer to technological use and stronger ties among universities, industry and government as part of its aims.
NDTV reported that Kalyanaraman cited more than 100 research projects supported by ANRF. The outlet did not say when the figure applied or which projects it covered. Another NDTV account described the portfolio on a different, imprecise scale.
Separately, the Ministry of Science and Technology said in an April 13, 2026, release that ANRF was developing SARAL AI to present complex research through accessible formats, including podcasts and short videos, in 18 Indian languages.
Kalyanaraman said research in areas such as affordable health care and medical technology should respond to Indian needs, with solutions eventually reaching international markets, NDTV reported.
Subrahmanyam said India was not far from the front of the small group working on high-speed flight, NDTV reported. “This race is still wide open,” he said.
Kalyanaraman said ANRF would soon partner with IN-SPACe to announce a “Maha Space Tech” research program, NDTV reported. The outlet gave no timetable for the announcement.
