About Us
Geospatial Innovation Hub (GIH)
The Geospatial Innovation Hub (GIH) is a joint national initiative established under the framework of the National Geospatial Policy (NGP 2022) through collaboration among the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Survey of India (SoI), and the IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF).
The GIH serves as the national nucleus for research, capacity-building, technology development, and startup engagement in emerging geospatial domains. It connects policy and practice by fostering innovation, nurturing entrepreneurship, and building the skilled workforce needed to realize India’s vision of becoming a global leader in geospatial technologies.
As a major hub within the geospatial sector, the GIH plays a pivotal role in Operation Dronagiri, coordinating research translation, platform development, and innovation activities that integrate data, technology, and governance.
Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee (GDPDC)
The Geospatial Data Promotion & Development Committee (GDPDC) is the apex national body implementing the National Geospatial Policy (NGP 2022). It serves as the central coordinating mechanism that aligns policy, data, technology, and partnerships to strengthen India’s geospatial ecosystem.
Through its leadership, the GDPDC translates national policy into actionable programs and pilots, facilitates collaboration across government, academia, industry, and startups, and promotes open and interoperable data frameworks.
As the guiding authority for flagship national missions such as Operation Dronagiri, the GDPDC ensures that geospatial innovation contributes directly to India’s goals of sustainability, digital governance, and economic growth.
Department of Science & Technology(DST)
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) drives India’s geospatial innovation agenda through the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
DST provides the strategic vision, policy direction, and financial support that connect scientific research, technology development, and entrepreneurship.
Within the framework of the NGP, DST leads the Innovation Theme, enabling Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs) across India to develop geospatial technologies, nurture startups, and create platforms that translate research outcomes into real-world applications.
DST’s leadership ensures that programs like Operation Dronagiri demonstrate how science and innovation can serve the public good and advance India’s digital transformation.
Survey of India(SoI)
The Survey of India (SoI), established in 1767, is the national mapping organization and the nodal agency for implementing the National Geospatial Policy (NGP).
As the custodian of India’s geospatial foundation, SoI ensures the accuracy, authenticity, and availability of national mapping data for governance, research, and innovation.
Working closely with DST and GDPDC, SoI bridges data providers and data users by facilitating access to authoritative datasets through the Geospatial Data-Exchange Interface GDI.
Under Operation Dronagiri, SoI plays a key role in coordinating with state geospatial directorates to enable field-level execution and data-driven decision-making.
IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation(IITTNiF)
The Technology Innovation Hub on Positioning and Precision Technologies (TIH – IITTNiF) at IIT Tirupati serves as the Geospatial Innovation Hub (GIH) for the implementation of Operation Dronagiri.
Established under DST’s NM-ICPS program, the Hub focuses on advancing Positioning, Navigation, Timing (PNT) and Geospatial Intelligence technologies.
As the central coordinating entity for the Geospatial Innovation Accelerators (GIAs) across five states, IITTNiF orchestrates collaboration among startups, corporates, academia, and government agencies, ensuring timely delivery of outcomes defined under Operation Dronogiri.
Its efforts strengthen India’s capacity for innovation-driven geospatial solutions and align them with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Geospatial Intelligence and Applications Laboratory (Geo-Intel Lab)
The Geospatial Intelligence and Applications Laboratory (Geo-Intel Lab) at IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF) serves as the core innovation and implementation hub of Operation Dronagiri. The Lab drives the creation and promotion of geospatial platforms and analytical applications that advance digital governance, sustainability, and decision support for the public good. Through its work, Geo-Intel Lab bridges national missions, innovation programs, and startup ecosystems to convert geospatial intelligence into actionable, scalable, and high-impact outcomes.
Within the framework of Operation Dronagiri, the Geo-Intel Lab is responsible for developing, demonstrating, and supporting the deployment of technology platforms that enable stakeholders—government departments, corporates, and innovators—to visualize, analyze, and use geospatial data in real time. These platforms empower informed decision-making for sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and livelihoods, while ensuring transparency and interoperability across the geospatial ecosystem.
A key component of this effort is the development of the Federated Geospatial Data Infrastructure (GDI), hosted and managed by the Geo-Intel Lab. The Federated GDI acts as a national-level data-exchange backbone for Operation Dronogiri, allowing datasets generated through accelerator programs, pilots, and state-level initiatives to be securely stored, curated, and shared through standardized interfaces. By enabling federated data access, semantic interoperability, and open-API-based integration, the GDI ensures that innovations emerging from Operation Dronogiri are sustainable, reproducible, and accessible to the wider geospatial community.
Through these initiatives, the Geo-Intel Lab continues to position itself as a national leader in applied geospatial innovation, transforming Operation Dronogiri into a living platform for technology, policy, and innovation that advances India’s vision of Digital Governance and Spatial Intelligence for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Geospatial Innovation Accelerators (GIAs)
IIT Kanpur – FIRST
IIT Kanpur - FIRST (Foundation for Innovation and Research in Science and Technology)
The Foundation for Innovation and Research in Science and Technology (FIRST) at IIT Kanpur is the institute’s dedicated platform for fostering entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and research-driven innovation. Established to nurture startups and promote impactful technologies, FIRST provides a supportive ecosystem comprising incubation facilities, mentorship, funding, and industry partnerships. It empowers innovators and researchers to transform cutting-edge ideas into scalable solutions addressing real-world challenges. By bridging academia, industry, investors, and government agencies, FIRST plays a vital role in strengthening India’s innovation and startup landscape, with focus areas spanning deep technology, clean energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.
IIT Bombay – SINE
IIT Bombay - SINE (Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship)
The Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT Bombay is one of India’s foremost technology business incubators, dedicated to translating academic research into successful commercial ventures. Established to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, SINE provides startups with incubation support, funding access, business mentoring, and networking opportunities. It has nurtured numerous high-impact startups across domains such as AI, IoT, biotechnology, clean energy, and materials science. Through strategic collaborations and strong institutional backing, SINE bridges the gap between laboratory research and market-ready technologies, playing a crucial role in shaping India’s innovation-driven economy and empowering the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.
IIM Calcutta – IIMCIP
IIM Calcutta - IIMCIP (IIM Calcutta Innovation Park)
IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit organization established by the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation for inclusive growth. It supports early-stage and growth-stage startups working on high-impact solutions in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion. IIMCIP provides comprehensive incubation services including mentorship, networking, capacity building, and investor connections. With a focus on social and sustainable entrepreneurship, the centre nurtures ventures that address critical developmental challenges while driving economic value. Through its strong academic linkages and extensive ecosystem partnerships, IIMCIP is shaping India’s next generation of socially responsible entrepreneurs.
IIT Ropar – AWaDH
IIT Ropar - AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub)
The Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub (AWaDH) at IIT Ropar is a Technology Innovation Hub established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. AWaDH focuses on developing and deploying advanced technologies in agriculture, water resource management, and rural development. By integrating IoT, robotics, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, the hub fosters innovation for sustainable farming, precision irrigation, and clean water access. It provides a collaborative platform for researchers, entrepreneurs, and industries to co-create impactful solutions that enhance productivity, resource efficiency, and rural livelihoods across India.
IIT Tirupati – IITTNiF
IIT Tirupati - IITTNiF (IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation)
IIT Tirupati Navavishkar I-Hub Foundation (IITTNiF) is a premier Technology Innovation Hub established under the NM-ICPS initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The hub specializes in Positioning and Precision Technologies (PPT), including satellite navigation, geospatial systems, and sensor-based applications. IITTNiF aims to drive research, innovation, and entrepreneurship by facilitating collaboration between academia, startups, and industry. Through its programs, it supports the development of indigenous technologies, fosters skill building, and promotes sustainable innovation. By leveraging precision and positioning technologies, IITTNiF contributes to advancing national capabilities in smart infrastructure, agriculture, and industrial automation.
