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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context:

Assessment of public-funded research and development in India.

News in Detail

A detailed report titled "Evaluation of Innovation Excellence Indicators of Public Funded R&D Organizations" was released by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research (CTIER).

The study uses an online questionnaire to collect data from 244 R&D organizations. The questionnaire covers 62 parameters, including:

• How much money the labs spend on R&D.
• How many young scientists and women scientists work there.
• How many patents they file and technologies they develop.
• Their contributions to national missions like the Deep Ocean Mission or National Quantum Mission.
• Their collaboration with industries and startups.

What Are the Key Findings?

Limited Support for Startups:

• Only 25% of labs help startups through incubation (supporting new businesses with resources).
• Just 16% support deep tech startups, which work on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence or biotechnology.

Low Industry and Global Collaboration:

• Only 15% of labs work with international industries, limiting global exposure.
• Only half share their facilities (like labs or equipment) with outside researchers or students, restricting knowledge exchange.

Mixed Contribution to National Missions:

• About 50% of labs contribute to national policies and Make in India (promoting local manufacturing).
• 35% support Skill India (training and skill development).
• 30% work on Swachh Bharat (cleanliness and sanitation).
• This shows uneven focus on government priorities.

Staffing Challenges:

• Many labs report fewer permanent staff in 2022-23 compared to the previous year.
• They depend more on contractual staff, increasing from 17,234 to 19,625. This could affect long-term research stability.
• The share of women scientists remains stagnant.

Positive Trends:

• The share of young researchers increased from 54% to 58% in 2022-23.
• The combined budget of 155 labs grows from ₹9,924 crore in 2017-18 to ₹13,162 crore in 2022-23.

Technology Development:

• In 2019-20, labs developed 666 technologies at early stages (Technology Readiness Level 0-4) and 1,192 at advanced stages (TRL 5 and above), targeting SDGs and national programs.

Recommendations made by the report

Labs must review their goals and focus on Viksit Bharat (Developed India by 2047). They should prioritize critical technologies like advanced manufacturing, clean energy, or quantum computing, as directed by the government, and act urgently (“on a war footing”).

Labs should partner with industries to develop technologies that meet market needs. This includes sharing research facilities and co-creating products.

Labs should set up Section 8 companies (non-profit organizations under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs) to fund and mentor startups, especially in deep tech.

Labs should allow external researchers, students, and industries to use their equipment and labs, fostering collaboration.

Labs should work with higher education institutes to train students, share knowledge, and develop innovations together.

Increase the number of women and young scientists. Reduce reliance on contractual staff by hiring more permanent researchers.

Must Read Articles: 

STATE OF SCIENCE RESEARCH IN INDIA

R&D EXPENDITURE IN INDIA  

Source: 

THE HINDU