Mumbai, Nov 8 (PTI) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) expects stronger participation from private sector entities in the National Science & Technology (S&T) Survey 2024-25, because it strikes to comprehensively map and assess India’s analysis and growth (R&D) ecosystem.
This 12 months, DST can be doing a separate National S&T Survey 2024-25, for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar advised reporters on the sidelines DST-FICCI Sensitization Workshop on National S&T Survey on Saturday.
The National S&T Survey, carried out by DST, serves as a important software for assessing India’s analysis and innovation panorama. It offers complete insights into R&D investments, human useful resource capacities, and innovation outcomes throughout sectors.
The workshop aimed to encourage better engagement from private enterprises, startups, and academia to make sure a holistic and genuine image of India’s R&D ecosystem.
“The survey is vital for evidence-based policymaking and for catalyzing India’s journey towards becoming a global innovation leader.
In the previous survey, 5,000 companies participated, and this year, a goal was set for over 5,000 private-sector enterprises. This survey is being done separately for MSMEs and startups, as they are a very important part of the ecosystem.
“Most of the questions for each MSMEs and startups will stay largely the identical; nevertheless, massive firms may have some very particular questions as they’ve a unique set of profiles,” he added.
DST is currently conducting workshops with industry bodies to encourage the private sector and the corporates to participate in this National R&D Survey.
The primary purpose of these workshops is to create awareness about the S&T indicators among the participants and remove any hurdles they are facing while participating in the survey, he stated.
“We don’t need the survey to be seen as a compliance train. Instead, it ought to be seen as a nationwide accountability, a collective effort to map India’s R&D contributions and establish areas the place private funding can develop. The insights we collect will immediately assist design higher schemes and incentives that profit each {industry} and the nation,” added Karandikar.
The government is fully committed to catalysing private sector R&D through bold reforms and flexible funding frameworks, he said, adding that the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, for instance, has been designed to mitigate commercial risks and support long-gestation, high-impact technologies, a first-of-its-kind initiative to spur industry-led R&D at scale.
When asked about the timeline of the survey, DST’s target is to complete data collection by the end of this year.
“We are aiming to gather all the information by the tip of this 12 months, and the report is anticipated to be accomplished by early subsequent 12 months, he added.
NITI Aayog Senior Advisor Vivek Kumar Singh, additionally current on the event, mentioned India as we speak stands at an inflection level the place industry-led R&D, college collaboration, and authorities reforms are converging.
“The National S&T Survey is not just a data exercise; it is the foundation for evidence-based science policy in India. Reliable and timely R&D data enables us to design better programs, attract greater industry participation, and strengthen India’s position in global innovation indices,” he added.