Science and technology plays a pivotal role in shaping the economy and the business of any nation. Same is true in the case of India. Here we have text taken directly from the economic survey of India and is reproduced almost exactly the same as published by the government agencies. Its our little effort in putting diverse business related information on our blog for our readers.
Science, technology, and innovation have instrumental and intrinsic value for society. They are key drivers of economic performance and social well-being. But they are also important for deeper reasons: a scientific temper, with its spirit of inquiry, the primacy accorded to facts and evidence, the ability to challenge the status quo, the adherence to norms of discourse and the elevation of doubt and openness. The open spirit of inquiry that is fundamental to science can provide a bulwark against the darker forces of dogma, religious obscurantism, and negativism that are threateningly resurfacing around the world.
As India emerges as one of the world’s largest economies, it needs to gradually move from being a net consumer of knowledge to becoming a net producer. Its historical contributions to science have been many, ranging from one of the most important innovations in the history of mathematics – the first use of zero – as revealed in the Bakhshali manuscript (carbon dated to AD 200–400), to important contributions made (amongst others) by Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara, Madhava of Sangamagrama, and to the stellar contributions made by names such as CV Raman, S. N. Bose, Srinivasa Ramanujan in the last century.And, independent India has chalked up many accomplishments: from the nuclear energy program, the hybrid seeds program that underpinned the Green Revolution to the space program, including the Mangalyaan mission which highlighted India’s niche of doing cost-effective, high-technology research. Most recently, India’s important participation (involving three major Indian research institutions) in the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) experiment successfully detected the existence of gravitational waves. And India’s vaccines and generic-drugs have saved millions of lives the world over.
However, a country cannot rest on its past laurels. Given the dizzying pace and expansion of scientific research and knowledge on the one hand, and a generally higher importance given to careers in engineering, medicine, management and government jobs among India’s youth on the other, India needs to rekindle the excitement and purpose that would attract more young people to the scientific enterprise. Doing so would lay the knowledge foundations to address some of India’s most pressing development challenges in addition to maintaining a decent, open society. Investing in science is also fundamental to India’s security: the human security of its populations; the resilience needed to address the multiple uncertainties stemming from climate change; and the national security challenges stemming from new emerging threats, ranging from cyber-warfare to autonomous military systems such as drones. This is very true because as a nation we have to dwell in the present, plan for the future and learn from our past. A country just cannot thrive on the glorious past. It has to have a glorious present and a plan in place for a glorious future.
Investments in Indian science, measured in terms of Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD), have shown a consistently increasing trend over the years. GERD has tripled in the last decade in nominal terms – from Rs. 24,117 crores in 2004-05 to Rs. 85,326 crores in 2014-15 and an estimated Rs.1,04,864 crores in 2016-17 – and double in real terms (Table 1). However, as a fraction of GDP, public expenditures on research have been stagnant – between 0.6-0.7 percent of GDP – over the past two decades. Public expenditure is dominant, although its share has come down from three-fourths of all expenditures to about three-fifths.About three-fifths of the public investment is spread over the key government science funding agencies like Atomic Energy, Space, Earth Sciences, Science and Technology and Biotechnology and this is actually logical as for India to flourish economically getting new technology for the same is necessary.
Private investments in research have severely lagged public investments in India. According to one analysis (Forbes, 2017) there are 26 Indian companies in the list of the top 2,500 global R&D spenders compared to 301 Chinese companies. 19 (of these 26) firms are in just three sectors: pharmaceuticals, automobiles and software. India has no firms in five of the top ten R&D sectors as opposed to China that has a presence in each of them.India is also distinctive in another dimension: its universities play a relatively small role in the research activities of the country. Universities in many countries play a critical role in both creating the talent pool for research as well generating high quality research output. However, publicly funded research in India concentrates in specialized research institutes under different government departments. This leaves universities to largely play a teaching role – a decision that goes back to the 1950s. It is now widely acknowledged that whatever the merits of the decision at the time, this disconnection has severely impaired both teaching as well as the research enterprise in the country.
The other critical input for R&D is a well-trained workforce among which Ph.D. students play an especially important role. Indian Ph.D. students obtain their degrees either within India or abroad, especially in the US. There are less than half as many Ph.D. students in STEM from India in the US as from China . It appears that fewer Indian students have been enrolling in recent years for such degrees, whether due to more attractive options after a master’s degree or rising work visa challenges.On the other hand, there has been an increase in Ph.D. enrollments in India. In 2015-16 126,451 students were enrolled in Ph.D. programs in India, of which 62 percent were in STEM fields (AISHE 2015-16). This increase is in part the result of concerted efforts by the government, including a substantial increase in the number and quantum of fellowships (such as the Prime Minister Research Fellowships at the IITs). Overall, though, India has far fewer researchers than other countries, and this is a matter of concern as we need more intellectual power by our side to grow economically.
While the data discussed above presents a mixed view, many observers point to a more troubling picture. For example, a report submitted by a group of scientists has been quoted as saying: “The stature of Indian science is a shadow of what it used to be … because of decades of misguided interventions. We have lost self-confidence and ambition and the ability to recognize excellence amongst our own. In a false sense of egalitarianism, we often chose the mediocre at every level” (Koshy 2017).Clearly, India needs to redouble its efforts to improve science and R&D in the country first and foremost by doubling national expenditures on R&D with most of the increase coming from the private sector and universities. But the metrics also need to go beyond papers and patents to a broader contribution to providing value for society. What might these efforts entail? Some ideas are discussed below:
I. Improve math and cognitive skills at the school level
No country can create a vibrant super-structure of R&D with weak foundations of primary and secondary education for so many of its young. While India has made considerable strides in improving access to primary and secondary education, as discussed in Chapter 5, learning outcomes have been weak. This weakness denies India access to the intellect and energies of millions of young people.
II. Encourage Investigator-led Research
India needs to gradually move to have a greater share of an investigator-driven model for funding science research. A step in this direction occurred in 2008, with the establishment of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), a statutory body of DST. This body has sanctioned about three and half thousand new R&D projects to individual scientists. It is a promising start that needs to expand with more resources and creative governance structures.
III. Increase funding for research from private sector as well as from state governments
The private sector should be incentivized to both undertake more R&D but to also support STEM research through CSR funds. Current tax law already favors CSR investment into R&D, but the types of R&D activities eligible can be expanded. Government can also work with the private sector to create new R&D funding opportunities which are also in line with private sector interests. Efforts like the 50:50 partnership with SERB for industry relevant research under the Ucchatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) is a good example of what could help make such partnerships fruitful.
IV.Link national labs to universities and create new knowledge eco-systems
The separation of research from teaching has been an Achilles heel for Indian science. Universities have students but need additional faculty support, while research institutes have qualified faculty but are starved of bright young students brimming with energy and ideas. A closer relationship between the two in specific geographic and spatial settings would help nurture research in areas reflecting the fields of science in which the national research centers have strengths. Together they can link up with the commercial sectors and help develop industrial clusters in those areas that draw on these research strengths and lay the foundations of innovation driven “smart cities.”
Source: Economic Survey Of India, GOI
