The Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE) hosted the Industry-Academia Bio-energy Innovation Conclave, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to discuss innovations and challenges in the bio-energy sector. The conclave aimed to foster collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders to drive sustainable energy solutions. The event was inaugurated by Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), who emphasized the critical role of bio-energy in meeting India’s growing energy demand.
The Secretary highlighted the government’s commitment to accelerating sustainable energy growth and bio-energy commercialization through the National Bio-energy Programme. He stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, industry-academia partnerships, and scientific innovation in advancing sustainable bio-based solutions. The conclave also saw the launch of the Jaiv Urja Mitra Programme, a national skill-development initiative aimed at empowering youth and entrepreneurs for India’s bio-energy mission.
Dr. Sangita M Kasture, Director General of SSS-NIBE, outlined the institute’s research and development activities in areas such as compressed biogas, biomass pellets, and green hydrogen. She emphasized the institute’s role in capacity-building, skill development, and its emergence as a reputed testing center in the bio-energy sector. Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, underscored the importance of bio-energy in achieving India’s renewable energy and climate change targets.
The conclave featured interactive panel discussions on key thematic areas, including compressed biogas, biomass-to-power, and bio-refinery. These sessions provided valuable insights into technology gaps, policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and innovative strategies for scaling bio-energy adoption in India. The event witnessed participation from over 70 delegates representing academia, industry, government departments, and research organizations.
The conclave successfully fostered dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, strengthened industry-academia linkages, and reinforced pathways toward a sustainable, resilient, and bio-based economy. It highlighted India’s growing bio-energy innovation ecosystem and the critical role of coordinated action across research, industry, and policy domains in driving sustainable energy solutions. The event demonstrated the government’s commitment to promoting bio-energy and supporting the development of sustainable biomass-based solutions to achieve India’s transition towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and Net Zero commitments.