Gandhinagar: Giving shape to its ambitious push towards making Gujarat a global hub for research and innovation, the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is planning to establish a dedicated research and development (R&D) and innovation park to attract domestic and international companies, startups and technology-driven enterprises.While the location of the proposed facility is yet to be finalised, senior sources in the industries and mines department said areas near Sanand, near Ahmedabad, and in the Gandhinagar region were under consideration.
GIDC
The proposed park is expected to offer a comprehensive innovation ecosystem with state-of-the-art infrastructure, plug-and-play workspaces, common laboratory and testing facilities. Officials said it will also provide shared support services, including intellectual property facilitation, technology commercialisation assistance, regulatory and compliance advisory, and incubation and acceleration facilities for start-ups.Govt officials said the initiative aims to create a collaborative ecosystem with strong digital connectivity and close proximity to industrial clusters, helping accelerate applied research and development of high-value technologies in line with the vision of Viksit Gujarat.The move comes shortly after the state unveiled its new industrial policy, which gives emphasis to R&D, particularly in sunrise and new-age sectors. During the launch, state industries minister and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi said Gujarat has placed perhaps the strongest focus on R&D among Indian states, with the govt offering subsidies of up to 50% to encourage investments in the sector.“Other states may offer incentives to industries, but Gujarat will benefit from its R&D-focused approach over the next 15 years,” Sanghavi said, adding that the state aims to develop technologies locally rather than depending on innovations created abroad.Highlighting Gujarat’s strong manufacturing base, Sanghavi said the state cannot remain satisfied with its existing achievements and must build capabilities in emerging sectors where research and innovation will play a decisive role.
