The CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, marked National Startup Day with a high-energy celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship, as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, and Vice President, CSIR, Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with young innovators and witnessed product launches. Addressing students, researchers, and startup founders, Union Minister and Vice President CSIR Dr Jitendra Singh described CSIR-IIIM as a living legacy of Independent India and one of the country’s oldest CSIR laboratories, established even before Independence. Commending the IIIM’s role in bringing transformation not only the drug discovery but also the institute’s contribution to farmers’ prosperity in the region, he traced its origins to the vision of Maharaja Hari Singh and the pioneering work of Sir Ram Nath Chopra, widely regarded as the father of Indian pharmacology, noting that the institute continues to strengthen its scientific and innovation- driven identity under its current leadership.

Highlighting the institute’s national impact, Dr Singh pointed to the “Purple Revolution” as a defining example of grassroots entrepreneurship driven by science. What began as lavender cultivation in Doda district has now spread across the Himalayan belt, from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to the northeastern states. He said the initiative demonstrated how agriculture, bio-resources, and traditional knowledge can give rise to successful startups, challenging the belief that innovation is confined to the IT sector or metropolitan cities. Reflecting on India’s startup journey, Dr Singh said the launch of the Startup India, Stand-Up India initiative in 2014 marked a turning point. From a few hundred ventures, India today has more than 2 lakh startups and ranks third globally in the startup ecosystem. He noted that nearly half of these startups now come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, underlining the democratisation of entrepreneurship, aspiration, and education.

Dr Singh also addressed common myths around startups, stressing that innovation does not require a PhD, a metro location, or even extensive formal education. He said women are increasingly leading startups across sectors, and small-town entrepreneurs are proving that talent flourishes when supported with the right guidance, technology access, market linkage, and financial backing. Drawing from field experiences, he highlighted the growing confidence and ambition among students in rural and small-town schools, calling it a sign of deeper societal change. The centrepiece of the event was an interactive session where students and young entrepreneurs pitched ideas ranging from agri-tech solutions for rice cultivation and mental health awareness initiatives to herbal remedies for menstrual health. Dr Singh encouraged them to focus on research, innovation, and value addition, assuring institutional support and mentorship. The event also saw the formal launch of ‘VELA-VITE HartBeet’, a heart-health nutraceutical developed by an incubated startup, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the IIIM–TBI BioNest Incubation Centre and M/s Tribe Route Essentials Pvt Ltd to promote collaborative growth.

Earlier, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM welcomed the gathering and said celebrating National Startup Day at the institute reflected a collective responsibility to nurture local talent. Apprising the Chief Guest about the Bharat Incubator Award to the Institute’s Incubator, he said that a total of 128 startups have been incubated from IIIM so far and 18 products launched in the market by the startup. He acknowledged the role of district administration, particularly Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh, in connecting farmers with scientists and startups, a synergy that proved crucial to the success of the Purple Revolution. Sharing personal journeys, incubatees spoke about how IIIM’s incubation support helped them transition from job seekers to job providers. One founder recounted how access to mentorship, technical validation, and institutional backing enabled him to establish a nutraceutical venture despite limited capital and networks.

Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh, the guest of honour, reiterated that entrepreneurship is accessible to all, regardless of educational background. He highlighted Doda’s rich reserves of organic produce, medicinal plants, and crops like rajmash as strong foundations for future startups, assuring full administrative support to young innovators. The programme concluded with the distribution of prizes for idea pitching, slogan writing, and logo design competitions. The proceedings of the event were conducted by Dr Vidhushi Abrol whileas Dr. Saurabh Saran, Head CSIR-IIIM Incubation Centres presented the formal vote of thanks.