I-STEM and Startup India Portals Linked Through API Integration

Startups recognised by the government now have a direct route to the country's laboratories. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched an API integration between DPIIT's Startup India Portal and the Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) on 6 November 2026. The launch was chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

What the link does

An API, or application programming interface, lets two software systems exchange data automatically. Here it allows DPIIT-recognised startups to search for and request use of existing scientific and testing equipment listed on I-STEM, straight from the Startup India Portal. A startup's DPIIT recognition is verified automatically, which makes onboarding quicker. Single Sign-On (SSO) is planned for later phases, so that one login will work on both portals.

I-STEM in numbers

Why it matters

Prof. Sood described the step as institutional convergence rather than a mere digital interface. In his view it can cut research and development costs, avoid building the same expensive facility twice and make better use of infrastructure paid for with public money. He also stressed closer links between industry and academia and access to specialised facilities for deep-tech startups that need help with prototyping, testing and validation.

Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary in the Office of the PSA, said I-STEM exists to promote sharing of scientific equipment among academic and research institutions, and the link will make it easier for startups to find what they need. Ateesh Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary at DPIIT, said startups will see specialised research, testing and prototyping facilities more clearly and will need to spend less of their own capital on costly machines.

Limits

The integration only simplifies finding and requesting facilities. Each request is still judged and approved by the host institution on technical suitability, availability, charges, safety rules and its own permissions.

What comes next

Officials said the reach of the platform will depend on onboarding more research facilities, keeping equipment details up to date and staying engaged with both startups and host institutions, so that laboratory capability turns into technology products.