Office of Principal Scientific Adviser signs MoU with Data Security Council of India
Published: Jun 30, 2026
By TIOLCorplaws News Service
NEW DELHI, JUN 30, 2026: OFFICE of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (OPSA), in collaboration with the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), launched the TRL Compass Platform to standardise Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments across sectors on 29 June 2026 under the chairmanship of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The platform adapts the globally accepted nine-level TRL scale to the specific needs of India's research and innovation ecosystem and provides a common national standard for evaluating projects seeking public funding. The launch was also joined by Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, OPSA; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, ANRF; Sangeeta Gupta, Sr. VP and CSO, NASSCOM and senior officials from OPSA, DSCI and CSIR.
TRL Compass will support the effective implementation of key national initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. It includes sector-specific annexures for Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals and Software, enabling domain-specific assessments. The platform transforms project evaluation from subjective judgement into an objective, documentation-backed assessment of technology, manufacturing, quality, and programmatic readiness.
Prof. Sood, noted that as India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the country's scientific strength will be measured by its ability to translate research into deployable and commercially viable technologies. He stressed the need for a common framework to assess technology readiness, guide public investment, and support commercialisation. He also advised institutions to adopt TRL Compass as a standard framework for funding, reviewing, and developing technology.
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, OPSA, highlighted that many Indian innovations find it difficult to move from the laboratory to the market because there is no common way to assess technology maturity. She said TRL Compass provides a shared and objective framework that will bring academia, industry, and funding agencies onto the same page, make technology transfer easier, and encourage greater focus on real-world outcomes.
Mr. Rohit Gupta, Chief Technology Officer, OPSA, presented TRL Compass and explained how it adapts the globally accepted Technology Readiness Level (TRL) methodology to the needs of India's innovation ecosystem. He also highlighted its importance as the country expands national research and deep-technology initiatives.
Mr. Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said that DSCI has long focused on understanding emerging technologies through technology forecasting, horizon scanning, and capability mapping. He welcomed India's growing investment in deep-tech research and innovation and emphasised that these ambitions require a robust framework to assess technology readiness, making TRL Compass a timely initiative.
Mr Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI and Dr Preeti Banzal, Adviser/Scientist 'G', OPSA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of DSCI and OPSA, respectively. The MoU facilitates collaboration on technology readiness assessments, capability mapping, and the development of a Technology Radar methodology. This partnership will also focus on building a pool of trained assessors for TRL assessments; and driving the adoption of TRL Compass across India's research and innovation ecosystem.
The complete framework, including its assessment questionnaires and supporting guidance, is now openly available to researchers, project investigators, reviewers, and funding agencies across the country and can be accessed at www.trlcompass.in.
