Govt begins process to set up National Research Foundation to enable research, innovation across institutions

The government has begun the process of setting up the National Research Foundation (NRF), proposed in the 2019 budget. NRF has a big task of creating an ecosystem for R&D and innovation that is decentralised and open within the country. India's plans for growing its economy in a sustainable manner, while bridging development deficits and improving livelihoods of all, requires an exponential rise in innovation and research fit for local circumstances. A robust independent institution like the NRF is critical to jump-start research, a field where India lags considerably.

NRF aims to enable research and innovation across institutions, beyond the IITs, IISERs and central universities. Less than 1% of 40,000 higher education institutions are involved in research. Decentralising innovation will require investing in institutions, funding peer-reviewed proposals by individuals and groups of researchers. NRF must also play a role in enabling collaborations between researchers, policymakers and industry. As the world races to transition away from carbon-intensive pathways, countries that lead in research will be better placed. Take hydrogen - nearly 75% of related patents are held by the EU, Japan and the US. If India is serious about its aim to be a green hydrogen leader, it must invest in R&D.

Low funding is a major challenge. Public money must be used strategically, bringing in private money into the field. Government expects the budget allocation of ₹2,000 crore to attract private funds of about ₹35,000 crore. What is of utmost importance is how this money is spent, on which fields, and not to pass off mumbo-jumbo and feel-good projects as research. Above all, to make talent not run for greener pastures, ease of doing research openly, with intellectual freedom, must be enhanced manifold.