DK

Dr. Ranjith Krishna Pai, FRSC

Also known as: Krishna Pai, Ranjith, Pai, RK, Ranjith K Pai, Ranjith Krishna Pai

Universitat Ulm, Mahatma Gandhi University, University of Kerala

ORCID iD 0000-0003-3323-0876
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About

I am a Scientist at the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, leading strategic national initiatives in clean energy, hydrogen technologies, advanced materials, and science policy. With over 24 years of international research, academic, and science leadership experience, my work focuses on translating frontier research into technologies and policies that advance sustainable development, energy security, and industrial decarbonization.

At DST, I lead flagship programmes in Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technologies, Hydrogen Valley Innovation Clusters (HVICs), Materials for Energy Storage (MES), Advanced Materials for Energy Storage Technologies (AMEST), the Integrated Clean Energy Material Acceleration Platform (IC-MAP), and international clean energy collaborations.

I played a key role in conceptualizing India's Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster (HVIC) framework, now integrated under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme. I also developed the Industry Research & Development Fellowship Programme (IRDFP) and contributed to establishing India's first M.Sc. programmes in Green Hydrogen Energy.

I contribute to national science policy through several Government of India committees supporting the National Green Hydrogen Mission. I serve as Member Secretary for the Hydrogen Valley appraisal framework, DST Nominee Director on multiple Hydrogen Valley Foundations, and Hon'ble Education Minister's Nominee on the Board of Governors of IISER Pune.

My research career spans Germany, Chile, Sweden, the USA, and Portugal, with expertise in advanced functional materials, photovoltaics, electrocatalysis, hydrogen technologies, batteries, supercapacitors, biosensing, and advanced energy storage systems.

Beyond my responsibilities at DST, I contribute to academia as an Adjunct Professor, mentoring doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, supporting curriculum development, and strengthening academia–industry–government collaborations to accelerate innovation in clean energy and hydrogen technologies.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), author of nearly 90 peer-reviewed publications, editor of international books, and Editorial Board Member of Cambridge Prisms: Energy Transitions.

I am passionate about building collaborative innovation ecosystems that connect government, academia, industry, startups, and international partners to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and net-zero future through science, technology, and innovation.

Education

Ph.D.
University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
January 2002 – December 2005 (4 years)

Professional Appointments

Scientist 'F' / Principal Scientific Officer (January 2024 – Present)
CEST, Department of Science & Technology,
Ministry of Science & Technology, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi

Scientist 'E' / Principal Scientific Officer (January 2020 – December 2023)
C3E, Department of Science & Technology,
Ministry of Science & Technology, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi

Scientist 'D' / Principal Scientific Officer (December 2015 – December 2019)
Technology Mission Division, Department of Science & Technology,
Ministry of Science & Technology, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Technology Bhavan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi

Associate Professor & Group Leader (November 2013 – December 2015)
Nanostructured Hybrid Functional Materials & Devices
Jain University, Bangalore

Research Scientist (July 2011 – October 2013)
INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal

Research Scientist (March 2009 – July 2011)
Brookhaven National Laboratory, CFN, New York, USA

Post-doctoral Scientist (May 2007 – March 2009)
Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

Post-doctoral Scientist (June 2006 – April 2007)
CIMAT, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

Employment

Employment history is unavailable.

Education

  • Universitat Ulm Ph.D. in Natural Sciences
    2002 - 2005
  • Mahatma Gandhi University M.Sc. Chemistry (Polymer Science)
    1998 - 2001
  • University of Kerala B.Sc. Polymer Chemistry
    1995 - 1998

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (87)