Background

• India has been on a rising trajectory on the Global Innovation Index for the past few years moving from 81st place in 2015 to 46th in 2021.
• India spends around 0.7% of GDP on R&D.
• The government plans to strengthen and boost the science and technology infrastructure in major sectors. They include Big Data, Cyber physical systems, Advanced manufacturing Waste processing etc.,

India’s Stand

• The national institutes like IITs NITs are doing well in the research sector.
• The National Education Policy 2020 is expected to give a boost in the next few years.
• The budget estimates for the R&D in 2022-2023 is Rs. 5636 crores.
• India is fourth in terms of Unicorns and third in terms of start-up ecosystem globally.

Path Towards Future

• Currently, India’s private Gross Expenditure on Research and Development is less than 40% whereas in developed countries it is more than 70%.
• The Department of Science and Technology is bringing together academia, industry and scientists as its stakeholders. 
• Breaking of silos among the departments is a much needed one.
• The areas like school education, pedagogy, industry needs to be linked for the better result.
• Industry-academia linkage needs to be promoted through technology business incubators.

• The filing of online applications of Intellectual Property Rights should be promoted.

NIPAM (National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission) 

• The pan-India ambitious mission NIPAM aims to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to 1 million students. 
• It aims to inculcate the spirit of creativity and innovation to students of higher education (classes 8 to 12) and ignite and inspire the students of college/Universities to innovate and protect their creations.

Conclusion

• The point of focus for India’s development should be to create and support an ecosystem for R&D which would meet the needs and aspirations of not only the local but also of the global consumer. 

Reference:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFeYl7ntVI