Explore interviews with researchers and innovation leaders in India, complemented by a selection of recent ACS journal articles highlighting emerging scientific advances.
India celebrates National Technology Day each year on May 11, commemorating key milestones in the nation’s technological journey and celebrating the role of science, engineering, and innovation in national development. The day serves as an opportunity to reflect on how indigenous technologies, born in laboratories, research institutions, and startups, have contributed to strategic self‑reliance, economic growth, and societal impact. Over the years, National Technology Day has evolved into a platform for recognizing the people and ideas driving technology‑led progress across sectors.
As India continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for deep‑tech and translational innovation, the role of researchers, technologists, and innovation leaders has never been more critical. In this feature, we highlight voices from across academia, startups, and innovation foundations who are working at the intersection of fundamental science and real‑world application. Additionally, we present a curated collection of research articles published in ACS journals that spotlight recent advances by Indian researchers, reflecting the breadth of scientific inquiry fueling emerging technologies.
In this Article:
Hear Voices from Scientific Leaders in India
- Dr. Rajappa Tadepalli
- Prof. Ambarish Ghosh
- Dr. Radhika Trikha
Explore Research Highlights Published in ACS Journals
Hear Voices from Scientific Leaders in India
Through this curated set of interviews, contributors share insights on translating research into impact, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and building technologies that are globally relevant yet locally grounded. Together, these perspectives offer a snapshot of India’s evolving technology landscape and the scientific leadership shaping its future.
Dr. Rajappa Tadepalli
Dr. Rajappa Tadepalli is the CEO of ASPIRE IIT Bombay Research Park Foundation. He holds a B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT Madras, and MS and PhD degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
With over 18 years of industry experience, he has led innovation and technology programs, built high-performing teams, and driven initiatives delivering sustained business impact. In addition to his research publications, he is the inventor of 24+ patents across materials, IoT platforms, and system solutions.
At ASPIRE, he focuses on enabling the translation of research into real-world applications by strengthening industry–academia collaboration. He is deeply committed to advancing India’s innovation ecosystem and mentoring the development of globally relevant technologies.
Prof. Ambarish Ghosh
Prof. Ambarish Ghosh studied Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, completed his PhD in Physics at Brown University, USA, and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, USA. Currently, he is a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and co-founder of the medical device startup, Theranautilus. His research spans quantum fluids, plasmonics, driven colloidal systems, and their applications in biotechnology. He is an elected fellow of the engineering and the three science academies in India. Among several honors, he was awarded Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize in 2018, the Tata Transformation Prize in 2025, and the Oral Innovations Award from International Association from Dental Research in 2026.
Dr. Radhika Trikha
Dr. Radhika Trikha is the CEO of IIT Ropar Technology and Innovation Foundation - Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub (AWaDH), a Section 8 company at IIT Ropar under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Dr. Trikha brings a wealth of experience and a robust background in policy research, having significantly contributed to India's 5th National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy draft. Her expertise in shaping policy frameworks has been instrumental in enhancing the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem in India. She has held DST-STI-PRC fellowships, including a Senior Policy Fellowship from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore (CPR@IISc Bangalore) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Panjab University, Chandigarh (CPR@PU Chandigarh). She previously held significant roles as Senior Scientist D – Assistant Coordinator and Senior Scientist C at the DST established Centre for Policy Research, Panjab University, Chandigarh, where she played a pivotal role in advancing science and technology policy research. Through these roles, she has advanced public-private partnerships, industry-academia collaborations, science diplomacy, and innovation management.
A gold medalist from Guru Nanak Dev University and Panjab University, Dr. Trikha holds a PhD under the INSPIRE Fellowship with academic training in Microbial Biotechnology. She has completed advanced courses in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Science Diplomacy, and Innovation Management, and holds an MBA in International Business Management.
Dr. Trikha's contributions extend beyond academia and policy. She is actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in the deep-tech sector. She has spearheaded initiatives that bridge the gap between research and industry, fostering a culture of innovation and practical application of cutting-edge technologies. Her work in skilling and capacity building has empowered numerous individuals and startups, driving significant advancements in the domains of agriculture and water technology.
Explore Research Highlights Published in ACS Journals
Unlocking Efficient Electrochemical Urea Oxidation and Understanding Mechanism Insights of Co-Doped NiS
Prachi Upadhyay, Artina Deka, and Sankar Chakma*
DOI: 10.1021/acsengineeringau.5c00034
Machine Learning Assisted Image Analysis for Microalgae Prediction
Karthikeyan Meenatchi Sundaram, Sikhakolli Sravan Kumar, Anuj Deshpande, Sunil Chinnadurai, and Karthik Rajendran*
DOI: 10.1021/acsestengg.4c00598
Carbamate Prodrugs Restrict In Vivo Metabolism and Improve the Pharmacokinetics of Isoniazid
Jishnu Sankar, Manish Kumar Bajpai, Anjali Chauhan, Ravi Maddheshiya, Nidhi Sharma, Aditya Sharma, Yashwant Kumar, and Dinesh Mahajan*
DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5c00576
On-Chip Full-UV-Band Photodetectors Enabled by Hot Hole Extraction
Sougata Karmakar, Soham Ash, Sinorul Haque, N. K. Murugasenapathi, M. Sridevi, Indrajeet Mandal, Gurupada Ghorai, A. V. Muhammed Ali, Nitya Nand Gosvami, N. M. Anoop Krishnan, Sayan Kanungo, Manohar Chirumamilla, Tamilarasan Palanisamy, Rajiv K. Singh, Amarnath R. Allu*, and K. D. M. Rao*
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c16106
CO2 Capture from Flue Gas on a Pilot Scale Using Porous Carbon Prepared from Cotton Stalk Crop Residues through an Industrially Viable Activation Process
Vineet Kumar, Mayur Bhalani, Jigar Andharia, Partha Pratim Mondal, Pratyush Maiti, Subhadip Neogi, and Subarna Maiti*
DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.3c04117
A Confined Impinging Jet Reactor for High-Throughput Continuous Flow Mononitration of Salicylic Acid
Muzammilanwar S. Khan, Tabrez R. Shaikh, Sphurti P. Kulkarni, Abhishek A. Patil, and Amol A. Kulkarni*
DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.4c00467
Graphene-Encapsulated Transition Metal@N/C Catalysts for Catalytic Copyrolysis of Biomass and Waste Plastics: Production of Linear α-Olefins and Aromatics
T. Nandakumar, Subhan Kumar Pal, Ravikrishnan Vinu, Palmurukan M. Ramar, Kamal Kishore Pant*, Sanat Kumar*, and Ekambaram Balaraman*
DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00279
Advancing Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: 3D Bioprinting of GelMA-Based Cell-Laden Electroactive Bioinks for Nerve Conduits
Soumitra Das, Jeyapriya Thimukonda Jegadeesan, and Bikramjit Basu*
DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01226