North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST), About, Components

The Government of India has approved the establishment of the North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST) to accelerate research, innovation, skill development and entrepreneurship in the North Eastern Region (NER). It was sanctioned in July 2025 with a financial outlay of ₹22.98 crore under the schemes of the North Eastern Council and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

About North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST)

• The North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST) is a collaborative research and innovation platform established to strengthen the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem in North East India.
• It aims to connect universities, research institutes, national laboratories and industry to promote region-specific research and development.
• It is funded under the Schemes of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and implemented by Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.
• The project is designed to operate through four thematic verticals, selected based on emerging technologies, regional needs, and future growth potential:
  • Innovation Hub on Grassroot Technologies;
  • Technology Hub for Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence;
  • Centre of Excellence for Innovation in Bamboo-Based Technology, Entrepreneurial Promotion & Skill Development; and 
  • Skill Development and Innovation Centre on Biodegradable and Ecofriendly Plastics

North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST) Key Components 

The key components of the Project include:

• Training Programs for technology creation and start-ups;
• Incubation and Tinkering Laboratories;
• Technology transfer, commercialization and product marketing support; and
• Development of enabling infrastructure for research, innovation and skill development.

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North Eastern Science & Technology Cluster (NEST) Objectives 

The specific objectives of the NEST clusters include:

• Empowerment of young people in the North Eastern Region (NER) with emphasis on SC, ST, women, and Divyangjan to consider self-employment or entrepreneurship among the career options.
• Promotion of new enterprises by handholding from ideation to commercialization, capacity building of existing MSMEs and inculcating entrepreneurial culture in the NER in priority areas.
• It focuses on strengthening research and innovation infrastructure. Through a Hub-and-Spoke model, institutions across the region will be supported in developing laboratories, conducting applied research and organizing training-cum-enterprise programmes.
• Strengthening the existing grassroot practices through scientific interventions. Traditional technologies and local innovations will be standardised, certified and improved using Industry 4.0 approaches, enabling efficient commercialization and integration into national and global markets.

The NEST cluster works as a hub and spoke model to connect academia, industry, research and Govt. agencies. The hub institution is IIT Guwahati, which will coordinate research, funding, training and monitoring activities. Several institutions across the region will function as spokes, facilitating decentralised implementation. Among the identified institutions are the 

• North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council, 
• North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology
• Indian Institute of Management Shillong,
• Tezpur University, and 
• CSIR North East Institute of Science and Technology, along with multiple National Institutes of Technology across the region.

This collaborative structure ensures that research outcomes are translated into grassroots-level skill development and entrepreneurship, rather than remaining confined to academic publications.

About North East Council

• The North Eastern Council was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament.
• It is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region.
• It consists of the eight states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram,Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
• The council includes the Governors and Chief Ministers of the eight states, along with three members nominated by the President of India.
• The Union Home Minister serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the NEC.
• The Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) serves as the ex-officio Vice-Chairman.