The Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map (I-STEM) is a national online portal that helps researchers and innovators discover and access high-cost, publicly funded scientific equipment across the country.
In simple terms, I-STEM enables users to:
- See what advanced research equipment is available in India
- Know where it is located
- Officially request time to use it for their research or innovation work
I-STEM focuses exclusively on publicly funded (government-funded) research equipment.
What is I-STEM?
I-STEM is a national initiative conceived and supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA), Government of India, and launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
I-STEM is a national portal that helps users find publicly funded research equipment in India and officially request time to use it, with full support from the host laboratory.
I-STEM does not
- Perform research
- Own any equipment
- Operate laboratories
I-STEM connects users with publicly funded research equipment hosted across
- Central and State Universities
- IITs, IIITs (Centrally funded and Public-Private Partnership), NITs, IISERs, IISc, NITTTRs, GFTIs, and other Science, Technology and Engineering Institutions
- National laboratories
- Other institutions hosting government-funded equipment, including public or private institutions
Why is I-STEM needed?
India has a large amount of advanced and expensive research equipment distributed across institutions nationwide. However, many potential users are often unaware of:
- Where specific equipment is located
- Whether it is available when required
- Whom to contact
- How to formally request access
As a result, valuable research infrastructure often remains under-utilised. I-STEM addresses this gap by bringing information on publicly funded research equipment together on a single national portal.
What does I-STEM do?
Through the I-STEM portal, users can:
- Search for required research equipment
- Find facilities by location or region
- Check availability
- Request time to use equipment
- Receive technical and operational support from the host laboratory
Users do not purchase equipment. They book time to use it for their research or innovation activities.
Who can use I-STEM?
I-STEM supports Indian citizens engaged in genuine research and innovation, including:
- Researchers and faculty
- Graduate, postgraduate, and PhD students
- Startups and MSMEs
- Industry R&D teams
- Grassroots innovators and independent researchers
How does I-STEM help users?
- Eliminates the need for heavy investment in costly equipment
- Saves time and resources
- Enables faster access to suitable facilities
- Offers flexibility to choose nearby or preferred locations
- Provides access to expert technical and operational support
How does I-STEM help institutions?
- Improves utilisation of publicly funded equipment
- Reduces duplication of expensive infrastructure within regions
- Enhances national visibility of institutional research facilities
- Promotes academic–industry and inter-institutional collaboration
- Improves return on public investment
How does I-STEM support national planning?
- Enables informed planning by reducing repeated investments in similar equipment within the same region
- Helps direct public funding to regions where research infrastructure is genuinely needed
- Strengthens India’s overall research and innovation ecosystem