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India Grants 1 Lakh Patents: R&D Driving Innovation

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Research and innovation are essential for driving economic growth, technological advancement, and global competitiveness. The Indian government in its interim Budget for 2024-35announced an allocation of ₹1 lakh crore to support research and innovation in the country. While India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has increased substantially from ₹6,01,968 million in 2010-11 to ₹12,73,810 million in 2020-21, its investment to R&D as a percentage of GDP is only 0.64% which is much lower as compared to major developed and emerging economies such as China (2.4%), Germany (3.1%), South Korea (4.8%), and the United States (3.5%). 

Despite a lower share of GDP to R&D, India generates 40,813 PhDs annually making it rank 3rd in producing academic talent, after the United States and China. Also, India’s research output ranked third globally with over 300,000 publications in 2022, highlighting the nation's strong research ecosystem and its dedication to advancing knowledge across diverse fields. This achievement reflects India's commitment to contributing significantly to global research endeavours.

Source:IP Office Update

Recently, The Intellectual Property Office has achieved a significant milestone by issuing over 100,000 patents in a single year, which highlights India's focus on fostering innovation and promoting intellectual property registration. The issuance of 101,311 patents reflects the country's increasing emphasis on research-led progress and innovation. Through robust patent protection mechanisms that incentivise inventors and creators, India is positioning itself as a global innovation hub. 

This is the first time India has granted such a large number of patents in a single year, with the highest ever 90,300 patent applications received in 2023. The fact that The IP Office issuance of over 250 patents daily and one technology sought IP protection in India every six minutes demonstrates the confidence in scientific research-based products to achieve commercial success in the Indian economy.

Break-up of Last 10 Years Backlog clearance and On-Time Disposal Source:IP Office Update

Moreover, according to a recent WIPO annual PCT overview report, India witnessed a remarkable 44.6% surge in patent applications, rising from 2,622 in 2022 to 3,791 in 2023, propelling it to the 11th rank globally. This surge in granted patents signals a robust innovation ecosystem within the country, affirming India's dedication to fostering a culture of innovation that propels economic growth and positions it as a frontrunner in global innovation.

India's research and development (R&D) ecosystem is primarily driven by government institutions such as the central government, state governments, higher education institutions (HEIs), and the public sector industry. However, the private sector industry in India lags, contributing only 36.4% during 2020-21. While India has made significant progress in science, technology, and innovation, collaboration between the government, businesses, and HEIs is crucial for maximising the positive impact of R&D on economic growth and technological advancement. 

HEIs in India contribute only 8.8% ($1.5 billion) to overall R&D investment, while Indian businesses represent only 37% of the country's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD), with approximately $6.2 billion. Leading innovative economies like China, Japan, South Korea, and the US rely heavily on business enterprises for over 65% of R&D funding, driven by profit motives, with actual R&D activities conducted in higher education institutions.

Comparison of Research Productivity and Innovation Metrics in Selected Countries (2021-22) Source: The Hindu

To increase industry contribution to R&D, the Department of Higher Education has been allocated a budget of Rs. 47619.77 crores for FY 2024-25, marking an overall increase of Rs. 3525.15 crores (7.99%) in the budget allocation of the Department of Higher Education for FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2023-24. Moreover, significant allocations have been made to various premier educational institutions in India to boost R&D. Central Universities have been allocated Rs. 15928.00 crore, an increase of Rs. 4314.03 crore from BE 2023-24. Deemed Universities have been allocated Rs. 596 crore, an increase of Rs. 96 crore from BE 2023-24. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have received a substantial allocation of Rs. 10,324.5 crore, marking an increase of Rs. 963.00 crore compared to the previous budget estimate for 2023-24. Similarly, National Institutes of Technology (NITs) have been allocated Rs. 5,040 crore, showing an increase of Rs. 219.40 crore from the budget estimate of 2023-24. Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) has been granted an allocation of Rs. 1,540 crores, reflecting a rise of Rs. 78 crores from the previous year's budget estimate. Additionally, support to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has been boosted with an allocation of Rs. 875.77 crore for 2024-25, indicating a notable increase of Rs. 60.37 crore compared to the allocation in the budget estimate of 2023-24.

Though the government has even updated its slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" to include "Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan" to emphasise its focus on research and innovation for development in the country, India’s research and development (R&D) landscape faces significant challenges. Apart from the above-mentioned issues, brain drain, inadequate education and training, and limited collaboration between academia and industry can not be overlooked. These issues hamper innovation and economic growth. To overcome these obstacles, a collaborative approach is essential. The government, businesses and higher education institutions (HEIs) must partner to maximise the impact of science, technology, and innovation. Public-private partnerships can bridge the gap between research and commercialisation. Resource channelisation and educational reforms can unlock untapped potential. The government has taken steps, such as enacting the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act and implementing initiatives like the National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP), to address these challenges. However, a multi-stakeholder approach is necessary for effective results. It is important to learn from developed countries' R&D ecosystems while leveraging India's strengths. India needs to attract more private investment and drive innovation-driven growth. While India's R&D ecosystem has its advantages, stronger collaboration between industry and academia, and private enterprise involvement can foster innovation. The government's increased investment in R&D and allocation of funds to premier educational institutions could help promote a more balanced R&D ecosystem.


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