Union Minister of Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh visited the Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute (SATHI) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Sunday. He commended the institute for its pivotal role in supporting high-end research and its growing contribution to the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Flagship National Initiative
SATHI is a flagship national initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The minister was accompanied by BHU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi. Singh began his visit by planting a mango sapling under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative.
Tour of Advanced Laboratories
Singh toured SATHI’s advanced laboratories and inspected several state-of-the-art instruments, including High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS), High-Resolution Confocal Microscopy, and the Live Imaging System. He interacted with university researchers, start-up innovators, and technical experts, emphasizing the institute’s potential as a hub for fostering indigenous innovation.
CSR Partnerships Suggested
The minister suggested mobilizing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships to strengthen infrastructural and training initiatives at the institute.
Vice-Chancellor’s Remarks
Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology for selecting BHU as one of five institutions in the country to implement the SATHI programme. He noted that while the university is working to make SATHI self-sustainable, annual funding from DST would be beneficial given the advanced nature of the facilities.
Key Achievements of SATHI-BHU
Deputy Coordinator of SATHI-BHU, Prof Birinchi Kumar Sarma, highlighted the institute’s achievements since its inception:
- Trained over 900 skilled professionals
- Processed approximately 30,000 samples
- Facilitated more than 15 patents
- Published over 100 high-impact publications
- Signed 10 MoUs with industries and leading academic institutions
- Supported over 1,000 users from academia, MSMEs, and start-ups nationwide
The institute continues to play a vital role in advancing research and innovation in line with the national vision of self-reliance.
