STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today shared the Modi government’s vision for fostering innovation through the newly established National Research Foundation (NRF), named “Anusandhan,” in the Lok Sabha. Designed to boost India’s innovation ecosystem, the NRF aims to play a pivotal role in advancing research and development by encouraging private sector participation. Dr. Singh highlighted that a substantial portion of the NRF’s funding will come from non-government sources, ensuring robust support for scientific initiatives. Dr. Singh elaborated on the structure of NRF, noting that it has been modeled after global frameworks, including those in the United States, but with a unique adaptation to India’s needs. He expressed confidence that India’s model would be a more refined and structured version of existing ones. Responding to queries on fund distribution, Dr. Singh explained that allocation will be based on merit and resource availability, with states like Rajasthan receiving a larger share, and private investments playing a key role in funding.
The NRF will operate with four key funding heads, including the ANRF Fund, Innovation Fund, and Society for Engineering and Research Board, integrated into the NRF. A special Rs 20,000 crore fund will be dedicated to research, development, and innovation. Out of the Rs 50,000 crore corpus, Rs 14,000 crore will come from the government, while Rs 36,000 crore will be sourced from private partners and philanthropies. Dr. Singh cited India’s success in space and vaccine development as examples of effective public-private collaboration. He also highlighted the rise of India’s innovation ecosystem, noting that India now ranks third globally with 1.75 lakh start-ups and sixth in patent filings, with 56% of patents filed by resident Indians. Concluding, Dr. Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing India’s research capacity, aiming for further global recognition by 2029. “The age of working in silos is over,” he said, stressing integrated efforts for global research leadership.
