Gandhinagar: In a move aimed at strengthening innovation and startup ecosystems in Gujarat, the state government has proposed ₹51 crore in the Budget 2026-27 to establish a research park at L.D. Engineering College in Ahmedabad.

Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai said the facility will be developed on the lines of research parks set up at Indian Institutes of Technology, where academia and industry collaborate on product development, technology transfer and startup incubation.

Linking academia with industry

The proposed research park is expected to provide infrastructure for applied research, prototyping and commercialization of ideas emerging from students, faculty and entrepreneurs. Startups and companies will be able to work alongside academic researchers, enabling faster conversion of innovation into market-ready solutions.

Officials indicated the park will support sectors such as manufacturing technology, electronics, artificial intelligence, and emerging engineering domains relevant to industry needs.

Boost to startups and employment

The government expects the initiative to nurture entrepreneurship among engineering students and encourage industries to invest in research-driven development within the state. The park is also expected to create opportunities for internships, industry projects and new startups.

By adopting the IIT-style model, the state aims to create a collaborative innovation hub in Ahmedabad that can accelerate technology development and contribute to Gujarat’s knowledge economy. DeshGujarat