Private Sector Must Fuel India's R&D Engine, Says Dr Jitendra Singh

The minister said the government has taken several enabling measures, including opening up sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private players and introducing mechanisms like the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) fund, but noted that industry must now respond with greater investment and collaboration.

Speaking at the release of two reports by NITI Aayog on easing R&D processes, Dr Singh said that reforms should focus not just on system design but on the actual experience of researchers.

Highlighting India's growing scientific capabilities, he said the country has abundant talent that is increasingly recognised globally, but institutional and procedural bottlenecks continue to affect outcomes.

At the same time, the minister flagged limited private sector participation in research funding and execution, saying government support alone cannot sustain long-term innovation.

He cited initiatives such as 'One Nation, One Subscription' for research journals as steps to improve access to knowledge, and stressed that streamlining routine processes like approvals, funding flows and administrative clearances can significantly enhance research productivity.

Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, said the initiative to ease R&D processes is based on long-standing demands from the scientific community to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiency.

The Principal Scientific Adviser Professor A.K. Sood said improving ease of doing R&D must remain an ongoing effort, pointing to issues such as low funding success rates, constraints in hiring and infrastructure, and the need for better coordination in implementation.

The reports by NITI Aayog, based on consultations with researchers, underline the need for greater flexibility, transparency and predictability in research systems to ensure continuity and confidence in scientific work.

- IANS