Finance
On Wednesday at Kartavya Bhavan, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to foster a robust ecosystem for research and development in the country by bridging the gap between industry, academia, and research institutions.
The Memorandum of Understanding intends to enhance research, translation, and commercialization, establish strategic alliances, and facilitate policy discourse.
Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the government’s Principal Scientific Adviser, emphasized the importance of technology diffusion in generating new ideas, products, and processes across sectors. There is also a need to scale high-tech priority areas such as solar energy and green batteries. As the government-enabled RDI fund supports industries and startups, this is a unique opportunity for industries to carry out deep tech R&D. This MoU between the PSA’s office and FICCI will bring structured engagement, enabling industry–academia linkages and connecting all stakeholders across India’s R&D ecosystem to deliver tangible results.
In his opening remarks, FICCI Vice President and Dalmia Bharat Group Managing Director Puneet Dalmia emphasized how this MoU will result in a mindset shift, with a focus on transitioning from academia to applications, silos to systems, and translational to transformational, thereby leapfrogging across sectors.
Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to establish a sustainable R&D ecosystem through initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund, and the recently announced Fund of Funds. She emphasized the importance of bringing industries together and involving MSMEs, which would lead to an increase in industry contributions to research and development. These efforts will eventually be reflected in the Gross Expenditure for Research and Development (GERD).
Shaurya Doval, Director of the Sangam Foundation, emphasized the need of international participation in R&D as well as enhancing the scalability and robustness of indigenous products and services, particularly in the context of energy dependency.
Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of industrial R&D in a variety of sectors, including energy solutions, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural biotechnology.
Source: IANS
