Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh launched the One Week One Lab event at CSIR-IICT (Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) in Hyderabad.

"Each of the 37 CSIR (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) labs spread across the country is dedicated to a different exclusive area of work and the ongoing "One Week, One Lab" campaign is offering an opportunity to each one of them to showcase the work being done by it so that others can avail of it and stakeholders learn about it", the Minister said.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that CSIR-IICT developed several technologies for life saving generic drugs like the development of indigenous technology for AZT required in management of AIDS that brought down the cost of the drug in the world market.

Anti-viral drugs and vaccine adjuvant for Covaxin developed by the institute played a pivotal role in limiting the spread of COVID-19 virus. 

Addressing an exclusive session of industrialists, startups and innovators at IICT, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "Hyderabad is known to be a destination of health and wealth as well as the pharma capital of the region. Therefore, the specialised and skilled manpower developed by the IICT should find a naturally integral place in the pharma and biotech industry of Hyderabad in particular and India in general."