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Kolkata Earns Title 'Science City of India' Through Centuries of Innovation

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  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, December 5th 2025 at 17:04 GMT by The Times of India

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Kolkata: The Science City of India – A Legacy of Innovation and Education

When most people think of India’s scientific prowess, they picture the sprawling campuses of the Indian Institutes of Technology or the quiet laboratories of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Yet, beneath the bustling streets of East India’s capital lies a heritage that has earned Kolkata the affectionate moniker “the Science City of India.” A recent article on MSN explores how a city that was once the seat of the British Raj became a crucible for scientific discovery, and how its legacy continues to shape education and innovation today.

1. A Historical Spark: From Bengal Renaissance to Modern Science

The article traces the roots of Kolkata’s scientific tradition back to the Bengal Renaissance of the 19th century. During this period, a wave of intellectualism swept through the city, fostering a culture that valued learning, critical inquiry, and social reform. Figures such as Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose emerged as pioneers—he was the first to demonstrate radio wave transmission and made groundbreaking contributions to plant physiology.

Bose’s legacy is still felt in Kolkata’s present‑day institutions. The Indian Academy of Sciences, founded in 1934 by Bose and a group of contemporaries, became a national hub for scientific discourse. The Academy’s Journal of the Indian Academy of Sciences has published seminal research for over eight decades, and its annual conferences continue to attract scholars from around the world.

The article also points out that the city’s early emphasis on science education set the stage for a network of research institutes that would follow. In 1876, the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) was established, a forerunner of today’s many national research bodies. These early organizations were instrumental in creating a scientific ecosystem that could nurture talent and innovation.

2. Present‑Day Pillars of Research

Kolkata’s research landscape is surprisingly dense, especially considering its size. The MSN piece highlights a handful of key institutions that collectively keep the city at the forefront of scientific inquiry.

The article stresses that these institutions do not operate in isolation. Rather, they create a vibrant ecosystem where academia, industry, and government collaborate on joint research projects, joint labs, and technology transfer programs. For instance, IICT’s partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has led to breakthroughs in green chemistry, while IISER K’s collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Studies has spurred interdisciplinary research on climate resilience.

3. The Science City Museum – A Public Touchstone

Beyond research institutions, the article notes a tangible symbol of Kolkata’s scientific identity: the Science City Museum (officially Science City – Salt Lake). Opened in 2012, the 300,000‑square‑foot complex hosts over 300 interactive exhibits, a planetarium, a science theatre, and a research centre. Its flagship attraction, the “Interactive Science Zone,” allows schoolchildren and adults alike to experiment with basic physics and chemistry principles in a hands‑on environment.

Science City has been instrumental in making STEM education accessible to the city’s vast student population. The article cites surveys that show a 25% increase in high‑school students enrolling in science streams after the museum’s launch. It also mentions the “Science City Outreach Program,” which sends mobile labs to rural schools, ensuring that the city’s scientific heritage reaches beyond urban boundaries.

4. Education: From Classroom to Innovation Lab

A recurring theme in the MSN piece is how Kolkata’s scientific tradition directly translates into educational outcomes. The city boasts a high literacy rate—at 86.3% in 2021—and a robust network of science schools. Several of these institutions, such as the St. Xavier’s Collegiate School and La Martiniere for Girls, run science‑focused curricula that emphasize laboratory work, critical thinking, and project‑based learning.

The article also highlights the role of scholarship programmes administered by the Indian Academy of Sciences. These scholarships—particularly the “Junior Research Fellowship” and the “National Young Scientist Award”—are designed to fund promising students in the early stages of their research careers. Since 2010, over 500 students from Kolkata have received such awards, many of whom have gone on to secure Ph.D. positions abroad or leading research roles in India.

Moreover, the article touches on the Startup Ecosystem that has sprouted around the city’s research institutes. A notable example is Biotech Innovations Pvt. Ltd., a spin‑off from IISER K that has commercialized a novel gene‑editing platform. The government’s “Science City Innovation Fund” (established in 2019) has provided seed capital to 38 startups in the city, with a 70% success rate in product development.

5. Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its remarkable achievements, the article does not shy away from the challenges that threaten Kolkata’s scientific standing. Key issues include:

• Brain Drain: Many top researchers leave for better opportunities abroad, taking valuable expertise with them.
• Funding Gaps: While public institutions receive state support, private sector funding for research and development remains uneven.
• Infrastructure: The older laboratories at IACS and IICT need modernization to keep pace with global standards.

To address these problems, the article quotes a panel of experts who suggest a multipronged strategy: expanding international collaborations, creating tax incentives for private R&D, and investing in state‑of‑the‑art facilities. They also emphasize the importance of science communication—leveraging media, social platforms, and community events—to inspire the next generation.

6. Takeaway: A Living Legacy

In summary, the MSN article paints a compelling picture of Kolkata as a city where science is not merely a discipline but a way of life. From the pioneering work of Jagadish Chandra Bose to the modern labs of IISER K, the city has cultivated a culture that prizes curiosity, rigorous research, and innovation. Its influence reaches far beyond its borders—shaping education policies, driving industrial partnerships, and nurturing future leaders in STEM.

For policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs alike, Kolkata serves as a model of how a robust scientific ecosystem can be built around historical legacy, institutional excellence, and community engagement. In the words of the article, “Kolkata’s story reminds us that science is most powerful when it is rooted in people, institutions, and the collective desire to understand and improve the world.”