NewzVille Desk
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh has called upon the private sector to step up its participation in Research and Development (R&D), saying stronger industry involvement is key to boosting India’s innovation ecosystem.
Speaking at the release of two reports by NITI Aayog on easing R&D processes in New Delhi, the Minister highlighted government initiatives such as opening up sectors like space and nuclear energy to private players and introducing mechanisms like the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund.
He urged industry to match these efforts with increased investment and collaboration. Dr Singh stressed the need for systemic reforms to improve the ease of research, focusing on better access to funding, reducing administrative bottlenecks, and encouraging greater philanthropy in scientific work.
He noted that while India has strong scientific talent, procedural delays and institutional challenges continue to hinder research outcomes.
Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, said the initiative on easing R&D processes is rooted in long-standing calls from the scientific community to reduce administrative burdens and improve system efficiency. He emphasised that as India’s research ecosystem expands, the focus must shift towards ensuring coherence across the entire research lifecycle—from approvals and funding to execution and application—so that avoidable delays do not disrupt outcomes.
V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, called for greater institutional autonomy, reduced compliance burden on researchers, and stronger linkages between research, innovation and industry, alongside coordinated, top-down reforms in funding and policy frameworks.
The Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. A.K. Sood said improving ease of doing R&D must remain a continuous effort, noting that despite recent progress, key gaps persist.
He flagged low funding success rates, unresolved issues such as the Treasury Single Account (TSA) framework, and constraints in hiring and infrastructure, urging stronger coordination and follow-through to translate recommendations into action.
