Rohan Atrawalkar and Janak Nabar India’s space sector, according to PwC estimates is currently valued at USD 7 billion, which is around 2 percent of the global space economy. Recent reforms announced in 2020 are expected to provide an impetus to India’s space sector and see a much higher share in the global space economy […]
Significant share of extramural funding for public funded R&D labs is from government sources
The report on ‘EVALUATION OF INNOVATION EXCELLENCE INDICATORS of Public Funded R&D Organisations’ in India shows that the 193 publicly funded R&D labs received extramural funding worth Rs 10,036 crores between 2017-18 and 2019-2020. It was found that over 90 percent of this extramural funding came from government sources. Extramural funding here refers to total […]
Beyond good intentions: Leveraging India’s international research partnerships to be a force for global good
Climate change, food insecurity, pandemics and similar pressing challenges need urgent action. Countries like India face severe financial and resource constraints to combat these challenges. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) can play a crucial role in finding inclusive solutions. India occupies an important space in the global STI landscape. India is a partner of choice […]
Success stories of companies funded by the Technology Development Board (TDB)
A recent report released in September 2021, ‘SIGNATURE COMPANIES & TECHNOLOGIES Funded by TDB for Commercialization’, showcases 26 companies supported by the TDB for technology development and commercialisation between 1998 and 2020. The total amount of assistance provided to these 26 companies was Rs 569 Cr (around 33 percent of the total project costs) over […]
Developing Long term Capabilities in Mobile Phone Manufacturing
The electronics industry is a fast growing sector in the country. Domestic production increased from USD 29 Bn in 2014 to USD 75.7 Bn in 2019-2020.¹ Within electronics manufacturing, mobile phone manufacturing has attracted significant attention. The production of mobile phones in India increased in recent years from USD 3.1 Bn in 2014-15 to USD […]
Intelligence Assistance and India’s approach to AI
Artificial Intelligence, most commonly known as AI, is at the forefront of the current technological revolution. AI offers a wide range of opportunities to improve human lives but at the same time provokes valid fears all around the world about job losses and increasing inequality. Korinek and Stiglitz in their recent paper, ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI), […]
Linking Corporate Social Responsibility and Innovation spending
The draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020 has recommended that companies should be encouraged to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards R&D activities, thus broadening the avenue for private financing of innovation. The recommendation also appears to have been made with the aim to encourage the contribution and collaboration of private […]
High-technology exports and Innovation in India
India’s share of high technology exports in its total manufactured exports have continued to remain low. Within the select economies mentioned in the table below, other Asian economies like China and South Korea have the highest share of high technology exports in their manufactured exports. Export orientation can play an important role in the growth […]
India’s public R&D and the fight against COVID-19
India’s public R&D and innovation ecosystem has been in the spotlight of late as it complements other government measures and the efforts of the private sector to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been focused on developing ventilators, sanitisers, masks and other personal protective equipment1, while more […]
COVID-19 in India: An intervention timeline as of 22 April, 2020
The WHO characterised COVID-19 a pandemic on 11 March 2020. Several countries have since adopted a number of measures to counter the spread of the virus. The measures have focused on encouraging social distancing including lockdowns in some countries, and have also seen important announcements from governments and central banks on the fiscal and monetary […]