Why in News ?
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme (2025) during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC).
- Objective: To fund high-risk, high-impact research projects, promote deep-tech innovation, and accelerate India’s transition from “ease of doing business” to “ease of doing research.”
Relevance:
- GS-2 (Governance):
• Institutional reform — role of Anusandhan NRF and ESTIC.
• Policy design for science, technology, and innovation governance. - GS-3 (Science & Technology):
• Promotion of deep tech, AI, clean energy, and biotech.
• Bridging R&D–industry gap; fostering innovation ecosystems.
• Ethical technology and AI governance.
Background
- Replaces the Indian Science Congress (last held in 2023) with a modern, outcome-based platform — ESTIC.
- The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF), with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore, provides the institutional backbone for this new R&D push.
- Part of India’s vision of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan.”
Key Announcements
₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme
- Provides capital support for “high-risk, high-impact” scientific projects with commercial and societal potential.
- Focus: Deep tech, clean energy, biotechnology, advanced materials, and AI.
- Aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and market-ready innovation.
Regulatory & Financial Reforms
- Eased procurement and financial rules to facilitate faster R&D execution.
- New incentives and supply-chain support to enable quicker prototype-to-market transitions.
- Encouragement of private sector investment in R&D — public-private innovation model.
Expansion of Atal Tinkering Labs
- 10,000 existing labs benefiting over 1 crore school students.
- Target: 25,000 more labs to be set up nationwide — expanding grassroots innovation and STEM learning.
Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) Expansion
- 10,000 new fellowships to be awarded in the next five years.
- Goal: Nurture young researchers, especially in frontier sciences and applied research.
India AI Mission
- Over ₹10,000 crore allocated to ensure AI for public good.
- Focus on ethical AI applications in education, healthcare, logistics, and governance.
India’s R&D Progress (Data Points)
- R&D expenditure: Doubled in the last decade.
- Registered patents: Increased 17-fold.
- Startups: World’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem.
- Deep-tech startups: 6,000+ in clean energy, semiconductors, advanced materials, etc.
- Bio-economy growth: $10 billion (2014) → $140 billion (2025).
About ESTIC
- Organizer: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
- Replaces: Indian Science Congress (in decline due to credibility and management issues).
- Focus Areas:
- Quantum science and computing
- Bioengineering and biotechnology
- Clean energy and environment
- Climate technology and resilience
- Objective: Foster inter-ministerial synergy and promote science-policy integration for “Viksit Bharat 2047”.
Context & Significance
- Shift from Output to Impact: From academic conferences to policy-oriented innovation conclaves.
- India’s Global Standing:
- 3rd largest startup ecosystem globally.
- 40th rank in Global Innovation Index (2024).
- Target to reach top 25 by 2030.
- Strategic Alignment:
- National Deep Tech Startup Policy 2024
- National Quantum Mission
- Green Hydrogen Mission
- National Research Foundation (NRF) Act, 2023
- Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF):
- Funds university-based research and innovation.
- Encourages academia–industry collaboration.
- Integrates R&D priorities with national missions (AI, semiconductors, bioeconomy).
Ethical and Inclusive Innovation
- Emphasis on “Ethical Tech” — ensuring technology aligns with human values and public good.
- Ensures inclusion of rural innovators, women scientists, and regional universities in the innovation network.
Strategic Objectives
- Transition from food security to nutrition security through biofortified crops.
- Develop low-cost, sustainable fertilizers.
- Map India’s genomic biodiversity for personalised medicine.
- Accelerate clean battery storage innovations for energy security.
Significance
- Economic: Strengthens India’s position in the global innovation economy; boosts exports of high-tech goods.
- Social: Democratizes access to scientific opportunities; builds STEM capacity among youth.
- Geopolitical: Positions India as a R&D hub of the Global South and an innovation partner for emerging economies.
- Strategic: Reduces technological dependence on imports; builds indigenous capacities in AI, semiconductors, and biotech.
Challenges Ahead
- Bridging R&D–industry linkages and commercialisation gaps.
- Ensuring ethical AI and data governance.
- Balancing basic research funding with applied/market-oriented research.
- Strengthening institutional coordination across ministries and research councils.
Way Forward
- Create National Deep-Tech Mission linking RDI, NRF, and AI initiatives.
- Foster industry–academia clusters in Tier-II cities.
- Build AI ethics and cybersecurity frameworks.
- Introduce outcome-based funding models tied to innovation impact metrics.
- Enhance international R&D partnerships (e.g., BRICS, QUAD Science Cooperation).
