Context:
A study commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser and executed by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research reveals significant gaps in India’s public-funded Research and Development (R&D) sector:
- Incubation Support: Only one in four R&D organizations provides incubation support to start-ups.
- Support for Deep Tech: Just one in six organizations supports deep tech start-ups.
- International Collaboration: Only 15% of the labs collaborate with industry overseas.
- External Engagement: Around 50% of labs open their facilities to outside researchers and students.
R&D Expenditure and Institutional Performance
The study highlights financial and structural trends in R&D spending:
- The Union government spent ₹55,685 crore on R&D in 2020-21. Excluding strategic sectors like defence, atomic energy, and space, key scientific agencies spent ₹24,587 crore.
- 25% of institutions reported spending 75%-100% of their budgets on R&D.
- Institutes with lower R&D expenditure were primarily from ICAR, CSIR, ICMR, Ministry of AYUSH, and DST.
Staffing Trends in R&D Institutions
The study notes staffing changes in India’s R&D landscape:
- Permanent staff numbers have declined in several labs, with an increased reliance on contractual staff.
- The share of young researchers in the workforce increased to 58% in 2022-23, up from 54% in the previous year.
Mandate Review and Shift Towards Innovation
The study suggests a shift in the role of research institutions:
- Dr. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, highlighted the trend of research institutions transitioning from traditional scientific inquiry to innovation centres.
- The report advocates that every lab should review and update its mandates to better align with the evolving needs of innovation and product development.
Call for Improvements and Structural Changes
The study emphasizes the need for closer analysis and improvement in the R&D sector, particularly in fostering a more collaborative, industry-oriented approach. Institutions are encouraged to focus on fostering innovation, external partnerships, and start-up incubation.
