Government Schemes for Promoting R&D and Innovation in India

Research and development (R&D) serves as the engine for technological advancement, economic growth, and self-reliance in India. The Union Government implements several central sector schemes, institutional frameworks, and financial incentives across science, technology, engineering, and academia to boost gross expenditure on R&D. These initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application, nurture start-up ecosystems, and position the country as a global innovation hub.

Statutory and Apex Advisory Frameworks

Apex policy bodies and statutory organizations direct, fund, and align scientific research with national priorities.

Anusandhan National Research Foundation

• Established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, 2023, replacing the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
• Operates as an apex statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to provide high-level strategic direction for scientific research.
• Allocates financial grants across state universities, central institutions, private academic centers, and research laboratories.
• Mobilizes roughly 70% of its total estimated five-year budget through private sector investments and philanthropic contributions.

Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council

• Serves as an overarching advisory council advising the Prime Minister on science, technology, and innovation policies.
• Oversees nine national science missions including the National Quantum Mission, Deep Ocean Mission, and Artificial Intelligence Mission.
• Formulates strategies to commercialize domestic academic research and improve intellectual property management.

Major Schemes for Academic and Foundational Research

Targeted schemes build human capital, support scientific infrastructure, and provide competitive fellowships to researchers.

Prime Minister’s Research Fellows Scheme

• Launched to attract top academic talent into doctoral (Ph.D.) programs at premier higher educational institutions.
• Covers institutions such as IITs, IISc Bangalore, IISERs, NITs, and select Central Universities.
• Offers a direct fellowship stipend starting at 70,000 rupees per month alongside an annual research contingency grant of 2 lakh rupees.

Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research

• Executed by the ANRF to reduce gender disparity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
• Operates through two components: POWER Grants for individual research projects and POWER Fellowships for outstanding women scientists.
• Provides structured funding limits based on institutional tier and project scope over a three-year period.

Fund for Improvement of STI Infrastructure

• Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology to strengthen research infrastructure in universities and colleges.
• Provides financial grants for procuring modern scientific equipment, setting up specialized laboratories, and upgrading networking facilities.
• Operates across four levels ranging from undergraduate colleges to leading university departments.

Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration

• Administered by the Ministry of Education with IIT Kharagpur functioning as the national coordinating institution.
• Facilitates joint research projects between top Indian institutions and leading global universities from designated partner countries.
• Funds international faculty visits, joint Ph.D. supervisions, and joint international workshops.

Schemes Supporting Start-ups, Commercialization, and Industry-Academia Linkages

Specific programs provide seed capital, incubation support, and prototype testing grants to convert basic research into market-ready products.

Technology Development Board Support

• Functions as a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, established under the Technology Development Board Act, 1995.
• Provides financial assistance to domestic industrial concerns attempting commercial application of indigenous technologies.
• Offers soft loans at concessional interest rates, equity participation, and financial grants to commercial ventures.

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations

• An umbrella program under DST designed to nurture technology-based and knowledge-driven start-ups.
• Includes NIDHI-PRAYAS (Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring innovators and Startups) offering proof-of-concept grants up to 10 lakh rupees.
• Manages NIDHI-EIR (Entrepreneurs-in-Residence) grants, offering monthly fellowships to aspiring technology entrepreneurs.
• Funds Centre of Excellence incubators across academic campuses to scale early-stage ventures.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council Schemes

• BIRAC operates as an industry-academia interface Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Biotechnology Ignition Grant: Provides early-stage seed grants up to 50 lakh rupees for proof-of-concept validation in life sciences.
• Small Business Innovation Research Initiative: Supports high-risk early-stage research in small and medium biotech enterprises.
• Contract Research Scheme: Enables academic institutions to conduct joint industrial research partnered with corporate entities.

Technology Innovation and Development of Entrepreneurs

• Executed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to promote IT, electronics, and deep-tech start-ups.
• Supports incubation centers set up across higher education institutes like NITs and premier state universities.
• Provides seed capital funding, mentoring networks, and infrastructure assistance to tech entrepreneurs.

Major Schemes and Administrative Authorities

Key Facts for Quick Revision

• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023 repealed and replaced the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Act, 2008.
• India allocates approximately 0.64% to 0.7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD).
• The Technology Development Board was established in 1996 under the Department of Science and Technology to commercialize indigenous technologies.
• BIRAC was incorporated in 2012 as a Section 8 (not-for-profit) Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Biotechnology.
• IIT Kharagpur serves as the National Coordinating Institution for the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC).
• The NIDHI-PRAYAS scheme grants financial assistance up to 10 lakh rupees to innovators for converting ideas into physical prototypes.
• Scientific and Industrial Research Organisations (SIROs) receive official recognition from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) for tax concessions.
• The National Quantum Mission, approved under PM-STIAC recommendations, focuses on developing quantum computing, communications, and sensing hardware.