Overview:
Research and development (R&D) in India has experienced a notable expansion in both local and international patent application submissions, ranking changes, and academic and systematic publications in recent years. Rising patent applications, improved Global Innovation Index (GII) performance, and higher quality of research output point to the nation’s growing research and development competency and ability to perform better. Still unresolved, nevertheless, are various issues regarding the degree of private sector involvement, financial availability, marketing of research for societal benefit. Even India’s extremely impressive development narrative makes us uneasy as certain important problems remain unsolved. Though hazards still exist, action in the economic survey 2023–24 is meant to keep existing growth at current and become internationally competitive. With an emphasis on the several facets, difficulties, and future direction for R&D in India, this study has pragmatically tried to address this topic.
Main Blog:
R & D: India’s Trip to Development
There has been over 3 X times rise in the number of patents issued between the financial years 2020 and 2024 and the speed of patents awarded in India has accelerated throughout the years. The Economic Survey 2023–24: The Economic Survey-2024 More labae patents were awarded in FY24 than one could count. That is a remarkable rise from just less than 25000 patents issued in fiscal 2020. This matches the Indian ascension on the Global Innovation Index, which ranges from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023. Coming 9th on the Nature Index 2023 in 2023, India beats Australia and Switzerland. It is an event that speaks of the potential frontier innovation of India. Still, given the money spent in research and development and the upcoming difficulties, it fits only a whole picture.
R&D Funding: A Comparative Analysis
Regarding research and development (R&D) spending, India is much behind the developed nations. Comparatively to the United States (3.47), China (2.41), and Israel (5.71), India spends only 0.64% of its GDP on research and development, according the Economic Survey—very low. From ₹60,196 crore in the Financial year 2011 to 127,451 crore in the Financial year 2021, the Gross Spending on Research and Development (GERD) has more than just doubled. Indian economy is still lacking behind and is poor. It is relevant and closey connected, nonetheless, because GERD outlays cannot be achieved without private sector cooperation. Comparatively to 77% in China and 75% in the United States, which clearly vary rates, the private sector accounts for just 36.4% of GERD, which is rather low. It begs the questions of policy needs and incentives to draw local businesses via billions of dollars into R&D projects.
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Achievements in Patent Filings and High-Quality Research
With a spike of 31.6% in applications filed, patent filings in India have seen hitherto unheard-of expansion according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It reflects the good inventive ecology, which government policy still influences but also results from the entrepreneurial energy. There is enough change occurring in this regard. Moreover, the fact that the availability of excellent and overwhelming research publications has swollen and erupted by 44% during the past four years highlights India’s research potential. On the other hand, India still has a long way to go before it is among the world powers. Far exceeding India’s potential, it is estimated that over 20,000 prestigious books are released annually in nations such the USA and China.
Challenges in India’s R&D Ecosystem
- Low ‘Lab to Land’ Transformation
The Economic Survey emphasises the urgent problem of the sluggish dissemination of research results from the academic environments to practical uses. Notwithstanding the noteworthy scientific achievements of Indian institutions, there are several restrictions on how these little discoveries could be turned into commercial goods and social effect tool.
- Weak Industry-Academia Collaboration
Still unstable interactions among elements like research, industry, and academia in India limit the full use of the great potential of the educational sector. Unlocking the potential of India’s intellectual institutions requires efficient teamwork, consistency, hard work and cooperation.
- Reduced Private Sector Engagement & Involvement
When it comes to helping with research and development costs, the private sector in India falls well behind other nations driven by innovation and sustainability. This lack of investment not only degrades the resources at hand but also reduces the creation of ideas with market drive.
- Development in Human Resource
India still has a great need to improve the quality of training and research infrastructure to match international benchmarks, even although research training has progressed as seen by a jump in PhD enrolment from 117,000 in FY15 to 213,000 in FY22.
Policy Recommendations for a Stronger R&D Ecosystem
- Increasing R&D Investments
Funding research and development should be given top priority by the government towards two percent of GDP or higher. Increasing public-private collaborations, supporting research institutes, and providing focused incentives to businesses would help to accomplish this in a better and enhanced manner.
- Strengthening Industry-Academia Partnerships
Establishing venues that support smooth cooperation between academics and business is really vital. Technology parks, innovation clusters, and industry-led research projects help to ease the move towards commercialisation.
- Boosting and Speeding ‘Lab to Land’ Conversion
Strong systems for technology transfer and intellectual property licensing will help to hasten the conversion of research into useful applications. Giving entrepreneurs and MSMEs adopting technology financial help will have major advantages.
- Improving Infrastructure and Research Training
Developing a world-class research environment depends mostly on upgrading PhD programs and faculty standards as well as modernising our research facilities. Global alliances can introduce international knowledge to organisations with Indian roots. Although these suggestions are worthwhile, I suggest that we give industry-academia collaborations top priority. Encouragement of companies to cooperate with academic institutions would help to increase innovation and hence raise India’s lab to land conversion rate.
The Role of the Private Sector
Research and development encouragement must come from an environment India generates rather than from a demand placed on the corporate sector. Tax incentives, grants, and venture capital assistance can help private businesses to participate in the research fields artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy, thereby encouraging them in the areas of need.
Worldwide Learning & Lessons for India
With Israel contributes 5.71 percent of its Gdp for research and development offering India as a fantastic model to replicate with a growing startup culture and emphasis on innovation. Likewise, China’s research and development successes result from deliberate technological investments and strong backing of small businesses.
Last Concluding Remarks
This is the narrative of India in research and development: Oversized Potential. Strongly rising patent filings, high-quality research, and general awareness point to a strong basis of the innovation ecosystem. Naturally, realising India’s R&D sector’s full potential calls for closing financing shortages, supporting private sector involvement, and increasing efforts at commercialisation and at making things more marketable and stable.
India must carry the appropriate strategic reforms and cooperative projects to guarantee that research and development will drive the economy and be of greater societal value if it is to be a global innovator leader. Through shared obstacles, they may grow and improve. The R&D path of India is about to get inflexible. We can transform the globe for India if we keep forward with sensible policies and collectively devote our country to innovation. Notwithstanding the great obstacles and hinderances, India has a great chance to lead the next stage of worldwide scientific advancements and technology developments.
Author : Dhriti Anil Kawale, in case of any queries please contact/write back to us via email to chhavi@khuranaandkhurana.com or at IIPRD
References:
- Economic Survey 2023-24
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reports
- Nature Index 2023 rankings
- Global Innovation Index 2023
- Government of India R&D expenditure reports
- Academic publications and articles on R&D trends in India