STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has more than doubled in the last 10 years, marking a significant rise in the country’s investment in science and technology. This was announced on Thursday by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister for Science and Technology, in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
According to the latest available data, India’s GERD has shown consistent growth over the years. While the expenditure on R&D has surged, it remains relatively low as a percentage of the country’s GDP, ranging between 0.6% and 0.7%. This is notably lower when compared to countries like China (2.4%), the United States (3.5%), and Israel (5.4%). The primary reason for this discrepancy is the relatively smaller contribution from India’s private sector to R&D funding.
To address this, Dr. Jitendra outlined several initiatives aimed at increasing R&D investment, particularly from the private sector. These include increased budget allocations for research, incentives to encourage private sector participation, and the creation of collaborative funding mechanisms such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and hybrid funding models. Programs like Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT), Industry Relevant R&D (IRRD), and the Fund for Industrial Research Engagement (FIRE) have already started contributing significantly, with involvement from industry players.
The Minister also highlighted the creation of Technology Innovation Hubs (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). These hubs aim to accelerate technological development and foster innovation, especially with the active participation of startups. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation, another strategic initiative, seeks to guide research, innovation, and entrepreneurship in science and technology with substantial financial backing from the private sector.
India has also established bilateral and multilateral research collaborations with 90 countries, including active partnerships with 44 countries, as well as groups like the European Union, BRICS, and QUAD. These international partnerships have been pivotal in boosting India’s R&D investments. Through joint R&D programs, industries are encouraged to co-invest up to 50% of the total project cost, with matching contributions from the Indian government.
Dr. Jitendra emphasized that the government’s approach to R&D also includes facilitating investments from the corporate sector under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provisions. Corporates can contribute to research projects or technology business incubators, further bolstering the R&D ecosystem.
The Minister reiterated that the government’s ongoing efforts, coupled with private sector participation, will continue to enhance India’s position in global scientific research and technological innovation.
