DST calls to boost R&D spend

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India has emphasised on the need to increase R&D spend and increased private sector participation to achieve the vision of 2047.

As per DST India’s gross expenditure on research and development (GERD) continues to hover around 0.64% of GDP, well below the global average of roughly 1.8%.

Meanwhile, industry’s contribution to that total is about 36%, far lower than advanced economies where private firms often contribute 50-70 % or more.

Speaking at a workshop organisedin collaboration with FICCI, in Mumbai on the National Science & Technology (S&T) Survey 2024–25, Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, DST, emphasized that achieving India’s vision of Developed India would require making research and innovation central to the country’s growth story, not only within universities and laboratories but also across industries and startups.

“For India to achieve its vision of Viksit Bharat, research and innovation must become central to our growth story,not just in universities and labs, but across industries and startups. The National S&T Survey gives us the factual foundation to frame effective policies, bridge gaps, and design schemes that truly catalyse innovation-driven growth,”Prof. Karandikar said.

“We don’t want the survey to be viewed as a compliance exercise. Instead, it should be seen as a national responsibility, a collective effort to map India’s R&D contributions and identify areas where private investment can grow. The insights we gather will directly help design better schemes and incentives that benefit both industry and the nation,” he added.

He also highlighted key government interventions such as the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Fund, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and mission-mode programmes including the National Quantum Mission, NM-ICPS, and AI Mission.

Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog said “The National S&T Survey is not just a data exercise, it is the foundation for evidence-based science policy in India. Reliable and timely R&D data enables us to design better programmes, attract greater industry participation, and strengthen India’s position in global innovation indices.”

“India today stands at an inflection point where industry-led R&D, university collaboration, and government reforms are converging. This is the right moment to scale our innovation intensity, to move from research to real products and from labs to the marketplace,’’ he added.

Murtaza Khorakiwala, Managing Director, Wockhardt & Senior Member, FICCI: “If an Indian company can develop world-class antibiotics at one-tenth the global cost, it proves our innovation potential. What we now need is the right ecosystem, fiscal incentives, faster regulatory pathways, stronger IP protection, and better university–industry linkages, to make India a global innovation powerhouse.”