‘Anusandhan Foundation’ aims at equitable funding, democratisation of resources: Dr Jitendra

STATE TIMES NEWS

NEW DELHI: “Anusandhan National Research Foundation” (ANRF), passed by the Parliament last week, aims at equitable funding and democratisation of resources in research and academics. This was stated here on Friday by Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh while delivering keynote address at a workshop on Capacity Building for Science and Technology. Dr Jitendra called for more and more Private Research Foundations to be assimilated with Government Scientific Departments for Technology-led Development of India. He called for equitable funding of scientific research and bringing in greater private participation. The Minister emphasised that the ANRF envisaged by PM Narendra Modi will catapult India to the league of developed nations pioneering new research in new frontiers. Dr Jitendra Singh said, ANRF will have to nudge companies to invest in R&D. He added that the Government is planning a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) entity for which Rs 36,000 Cr of the research funding is to come from the private sector, mostly industry whereas Government will put Rs 14,000 Cr for the same, to ensure greater participation of industry. Dr Jitendra Singh informed that India is now launching cutting-edge technological breakthroughs in tandem with the Developed countries of the world and gave the example of the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and international laurels in the Space sector. Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Capacity Building Commission, Prof, Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India, Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, DBT, Praveen Pardeshi, Member(Admin) CBC and many senior Scientists and officials took part in the workshop.