Latest news with #StateS&TCouncils
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Govt has limitations, private sector should step in to fund R&D: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday made a strong pitch for a greater role for the private sector in funding research initiatives, contending that the government has its limitations and should be a facilitator. Govt has limitations, private sector should step in to fund R&D: Jitendra Singh Singh was speaking at a function to release a NITI Aayog report on 'Roadmap for Strengthening State S&T Councils'. The report said that about 67 per cent of India's research publications are contributed by 450 centrally-funded institutions. "We need to have a change in mindset. The question is not 67 per cent centrally funded or why not equally state funded. I would be unorthodox. Why at all 100 per cent Centre or State," Singh said, making a case for private sector participation. "If you are thinking of a global role for yourself, most of the successful scientific ventures across the world do not depend on the government," Singh said. The minister said that there was a need to integrate the private sector as much as possible, and cited the recently established Anusandhan National Research Foundation to provide high-level strategic directions for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of science. "The government has its limitations, it can be funding everything for your research. It has to look after other things as well," Singh said. The report stated that the State S&T Councils, though functioning within a shared national model framework, demonstrate significant heterogeneity in their governance models, funding structures, manpower capacities and programmatic focus. "While some states have leveraged S&T institutions to drive innovation and technology-led growth, others face several challenges related to fragmented mandates, irregular funding flows, and weak institutional capacities," the report said. It said that many councils are constrained by non-regularised manpower, absence of performance-linked incentives and limited autonomy in decision-making, impeding long-term planning and execution. The report called for a comprehensive blend of structural reforms, capacity-building efforts and strategic partnerships to enhance the effectiveness and responsiveness of these councils. Key issues addressed include inadequate financial resources and diversification, lack of state-specific S&T need mapping, weak institutional substructures, limited collaboration with industry and academia, fragmented R&D support, underutilisation of STI data, insufficient recognition of scientific talent and weak interlinkages with central agencies and other institutions. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Strengthening state Science & Tech Councils key to resilient, self-reliant Viksit Bharat: Niti Aayog
New Delhi: Strengthening the Science and Technology (S&T) Councils in states is pivotal to building a resilient and self-reliant Viksit Bharat, said Niti Aayog in a report on Thursday. State S&T Councils play a crucial role in bridging the gap between scientific innovation and socio-economic development, especially in areas like agriculture, renewable energy, disaster management, and local entrepreneurship at the regional level. These have also made significant contributions to supporting patent facilitation, remote sensing applications, and GI mapping, grassroots innovation, science popularisation and capacity-building programmes. The report titled "Roadmap for Strengthening State S&T Councils", based on extensive consultations, a national workshop, and multi-stakeholder engagement facilitated by the NITI Aayog, captures the structural gaps, opportunities. It also called for robust coordination among ministries, state governments, funding bodies, academic and research institutions, and industry partners. 'The integrated approach will play a foundational role in achieving India's long-term strategic objectives, such as a resilient, and self-reliant Viksit Bharat, where science and innovation are central to societal progress, economic prosperity, and national strength,' said the report, authored by Members of the (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, including Dr. V. K. Saraswat. The report also attempts to identify major challenges faced by the State S&T Councils and underscores a critical shift from isolated, ad-hoc initiatives to a forward-looking ecosystem. Key issues addressed include inadequate financial resources and diversification, lack of state-specific S&T need mapping, weak institutional substructures, limited collaboration with industry and academia, fragmented R&D support, underutilisation of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) data, insufficient recognition of scientific talent, weak interlinkages with central agencies and other institutions. The report thus represents not merely a set of reforms but a pivotal opportunity that can help shape India's future in the global research, development, and innovation landscape. It can also help position India as a leader in Science and Technology, through a collective approach. 'If executed well, the Roadmap has the potential to transform State S&T Councils into high-impact, innovation-driven engines of growth. It will not only bolster their administrative and technical capacities but also create a fertile ground for emerging industries, technological self-reliance, and knowledge-based economic development of the state," the report said.
