Rethinking India's R&D Ecosystem
The Central government has initiated efforts to enhance the 'Ease of Doing R&D' through a collaborative approach with over 350 scientific institutes and laboratories. This initiative aims to identify key bottlenecks and challenges in conducting and scaling research and development in India. NITI Aayog has been tasked with leading a nationwide reset of the R&D ecosystem.
Key Challenges in R&D
- Regulatory and Administrative Hurdles:
- Rigid rules on fund flow and utilisation.
- Issues with the General Financial Rules and reappropriation obstacles.
- Weak incentive structures, notably in state institutions.
- Operational Challenges:
- Fragmented coordination among ministries.
- Overlapping compliance mandates.
- Outdated approval systems delaying projects.
- Lack of autonomy and limited risk appetite.
Global Context and Urgency
The urgency for reform arises from India's innovation goals and international developments, with countries like the US, China, and South Korea advancing rapidly in frontier science by integrating academic freedom with adaptive funding and strong university-industry collaborations.
NITI Aayog's Mandate
- Nationwide Review: To be completed by year-end, assessing the R&D ecosystem.
- Framework Development: Establishing a new framework to enhance the 'Ease of Doing Research'.
Three-Part Reform Strategy
- Funding:
- Identify gaps in support structures.
- Evaluate tech readiness levels and fund accessibility.
- Regulatory Framework:
- Streamline grant rules and project evaluations.
- Improve researcher career tracks.
- Institutional Benchmarking:
- Set model guidelines for R&D.
- Boost support for scale-up and monetization.
The overarching aim is to make Indian science and innovation globally competitive, not only in publications but also in translating research into practical solutions that drive economic growth, enhance national security, and achieve technological leadership.
