Vidhu Prakash is a development and strategic partnerships professional associated with the Strategic Alliances Division at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) to the Government of India. His professional interests lie at the intersection of institutional collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship, skill development, and ecosystem building. His work is aligned with the broader national vision of leveraging science, technology, and innovation to address societal challenges, strengthen research capabilities, and promote inclusive economic development. The Strategic Alliances Division plays an important role in connecting industry, government, academic and research institutions, startups, philanthropic organizations, and international partners to facilitate collaborative research, technology development, and innovation-led solutions.
Prior to his association with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Mr. Prakash worked with Tata STRIVE, where he served as Associate Lead – Partnerships. During this tenure, he was associated with industry and institutional collaborations aimed at strengthening vocational education, improving employability, and creating meaningful career opportunities for young people. His engagement included partnership initiatives connecting industry, government, and academic institutions to develop sector-specific skill-development programs. One such initiative involved collaboration with Tata BlueScope Steel to promote skill development in the green-energy sector, particularly solar technology, reflecting his interest in aligning skilling programs with emerging industry requirements and national development priorities.
In his present role within the Strategic Alliances Division, his professional focus is aligned with facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships and enabling stronger connections between India’s research and innovation ecosystem and organizations capable of supporting their development and implementation. An important initiative of the division is Manthan, a digital collaboration platform launched on 15 August 2022 by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The platform seeks to connect industry challenges and research opportunities with academic institutions, researchers, and startups, facilitating innovation, technology transfer, and solutions with wider societal and industrial applications.
Academically, Mr. Prakash holds a master’s degree in development studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. His academic engagement included participation in research-oriented activities, student leadership, and policy discussions. His professional journey reflects an interest in building collaborative ecosystems where partnerships, institutional capabilities, and innovation can translate into practical outcomes, contributing to India’s broader objectives of sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and technology-led progress.
