Private sector to accelerate its participation in R&D activities- Dr Jitendra Singh
Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh today called upon the private sector to accelerate its participation in Research & Development (R&D) activities, emphasising that industry engagement is essential to strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.
The Minister said the government has taken a series of enabling steps – including opening up sectors such as space and nuclear energy to private players and creating dedicated mechanisms like the RDI fund—and stressed that industry must now respond by investing more actively in R&D and partnering in the country’s scientific and technological advancement.
Speaking at the release of two NITI Aayog reports on easing research and development processes, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised that the focus must shift from how systems are designed to how they are actually experienced by researchers on the ground. He said evidence-based documentation of these lived challenges strengthens the case for reform and helps carry concerns beyond the scientific community to policymakers.
V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, said India’s research ecosystem is at a “point of transition”, with systemic inefficiencies such as funding delays and administrative bottlenecks continuing to affect both the pace and quality of research.
The Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. A.K. Sood said improving ease of doing R&D must remain a continuous effort, noting that despite recent progress, key gaps persist.(UPDATED ON 9TH APRIL 2026)
