New Delhi, April 9 Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday urged the private industry to invest more actively in research and development activities and partner in the country's scientific and technological advancement.
The minister stated that the government had taken a series of steps, such as opening up sectors like space and nuclear energy and creating dedicated mechanisms like the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund, to make it easier for the private industry to participate in research and development.
Speaking at the release of two new NITI Aayog reports on streamlining research and development processes, Singh said, "There has been limited participation of the private industry in research funding and execution. Government support alone cannot sustain long-term innovation."
He also highlighted gaps in corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending for research, noting that even existing allocations were not being fully utilized for research and development purposes.
The minister called for a stronger culture of philanthropy and institutional support for scientific work.
"Strengthening India's research ecosystem requires sustained, system-wide engagement beyond government, involving institutions, industry and society at large," Singh said.
