Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised Him-CONNECT in New Delhi on the sidelines of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2026, hosted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
Him-CONNECT is a dedicated platform to connect researchers working in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) with start-ups, investors, industry partners, and policymakers to accelerate the scaling and on-ground deployment of climate and sustainability innovations.
What is Him-CONNECT?
Him-CONNECT is designed as a bridge between science and enterprise, enabling research outcomes to move beyond laboratories into real-world applications.
Core Aim
- Bring together Himalayan researchers, start-ups, incubators, investors, and policymakers.
- Enable collaboration, pilot deployment, and structured funding.
- Create commercialisation pathways for climate-focused innovations.
- Promote climate resilience and green growth in mountain ecosystems.
Link with National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)
The initiative builds upon the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), under which:
- More than 250 action-oriented research initiatives have been supported.
- Research has focused on conservation, biodiversity, water security, sustainable livelihoods, waste management, and climate adaptation.
- Over a decade of science-based, locally relevant innovations have been generated.
Him-CONNECT showcased 24+ technologies, prototypes, patents, and pilot projects developed for the fragile Himalayan ecosystem under NMHS.
Participation
- Over 100 start-ups, incubators, investors, policymakers, and development organisations participated.
- Innovators represented leading institutions including:
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
- CSIR laboratories
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs)
- Central universities
- Specialised Himalayan research centres
Key Innovations Displayed
Field-tested and market-ready solutions were presented across sectors such as:
Water Security & Wastewater Management
- Hydroponic farming using treated wastewater.
- Pine needle-based wastewater treatment systems.
- Decentralised wastewater reuse technologies.
- Low-cost mineralised water purifiers.
Sustainable Infrastructure
- Eco-friendly road construction techniques tailored for mountain terrains.
Waste-to-Wealth
- Conversion of sericulture waste into burn ointments.
Livelihood & Agriculture
- Yak milk cottage cheese processing technologies.
- Nature-based livelihood solutions.
Renewable Energy & Climate Adaptation
- Clean energy innovations for remote Himalayan regions.
Why Him-CONNECT is Needed
The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is:
- A critical life-support system for millions in upland and downstream areas.
- A major climate regulator for large parts of Asia.
- Ecologically fragile and biodiversity-rich.
- Culturally and spiritually significant.
The IHR faces:
- Climate change impacts.
- Glacial retreat.
- Water stress.
- Biodiversity degradation.
- Livelihood vulnerability.
Structured science-to-market pathways are essential to address these challenges effectively.
Strategic Significance
- Promotes climate-resilient innovation.
- Aligns research funding with commercial scalability.
- Encourages green entrepreneurship.
- Supports sustainable mountain development.
- Strengthens public-private collaboration.
- Enhances India’s climate leadership credentials.
- Facilitates South-South cooperation in mountain ecosystems.
Geographic Coverage of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)
The IHR spans 11 states and Union Territories, including:
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Sikkim
- Arunachal Pradesh
(Along with other Himalayan and hill states/UTs)