Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, emphasized the importance of increased private sector involvement in research and development (R&D) to enhance India’s innovation ecosystem. He highlighted government initiatives like opening up sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private players and establishing the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund. Dr Singh stressed the need for industry to invest more and collaborate actively in R&D efforts.
At an event where NITI Aayog released two reports on simplifying R&D processes, Dr Singh emphasized the significance of reforms that improve the actual experience of researchers, not just the system design. Despite India’s growing scientific talent being globally recognized, there are still institutional and procedural challenges hindering optimal outcomes. The minister also pointed out the limited involvement of the private sector in research funding and execution, stating that sustained innovation requires more than just government support.
Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, highlighted that the move to streamline R&D processes addresses long-standing demands from the scientific community to reduce administrative burdens and enhance efficiency. Principal Scientific Adviser Professor A.K. Sood emphasized the necessity of continuous efforts to improve the ease of conducting R&D. He identified challenges such as low funding success rates, hiring constraints, infrastructure limitations, and the importance of better coordination in implementation.
Reports from NITI Aayog, based on consultations with researchers, underscore the need for increased flexibility, transparency, and predictability in research systems to ensure the continuity and confidence of scientific work.
