NIPST is a unique University Institute enrolling students through competitive examinations at the National level in the campus of Mahatma Gandhi University for advanced education in plant science, promoting research in Interdisciplinary areas of 'Plants and their Environment Relations' towards developing 'Plant-based Eco-technologies'. The Institute will inspire students to apply their creative talents to research potentials of the rich botanical wealth of Kerala in the development of globally significant technologies useful in sustainable agricultural, phyto-medicinal, bio-fuel, bio-based industrial and eco-remediation purposes.

Instead of keeping science and technology as watertight compartments in conventional programmes, this institute will enable science students to end up their post graduation to a productive research on plant-based eco-technology and entrepreneurship based on the same that they develop. Overall, the Institute aims at boosting entrepreneurship in the country through productive research in plant science.