Although the Ministry of Science & Technology do not implement any Centrally Sponsored Schemes and do not have any provision for making state-wise allocations
- Ministries work with State Governments for implementation of some Central Schemes like Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Award scheme,
- State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) and
- Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) Programme and solicit proposals from them.
Details on INSPIRE Award, SSTP and PFC programmes for the years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 (current year) are given below:
(i) Under INSPIRE Award scheme of Department of Science & Technology (DST)
- two students are selected from every middle & high school of the country having classes 6 to 10 during a Five Year Plan period for an INSPIRE Award of Rs.5000/- each for preparing a Science Project/Model.
- Merit based selection of students is done by the State Government machinery involving Headmaster/Headmistress/Principal of the schools.
- Award amount is directly sent to the selected children in the form of an INSPIRE Award Warrant issued by Bank.
- The awardees participate in the District Level Exhibition and Project Competitions (DLEPCs) and best 5% to 10% entries from the District are selected for participation in the State Level Exhibitions & Project Competitions (SLEPCs).
- Best 5% entries from the State/UT, subject to a minimum of 5 are selected to participate in the National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC).
- Implementation of the scheme is done by the State/UT Governments. All the 28 states and 7 UTs are participating in the scheme.
- Entire cost for conduct of competitions at various levels is borne by the Central Government. Money is released to State Nodal Officers in-charge of INSPIRE for organizing competitions at District and State Levels.
(ii) Under State Science and Technology Programme (SSTP) of DST
- annual core grant support has been provided to State Science & Technology Councils in the Country.
- Core support is provided to State S&T Councils with the objective of facilitating these councils in planning, monitoring and implementing S&T activities in the States.
- This core grant assistance partially covers support for Scientific, Technical & Administrative manpower, travel, office expenses and modern office equipment etc.
(iii) Under Patent Facilitation Cell (PFC) programme of DST
- 24 Patent Information Centres (PICs) are supported in various states for creating awareness and extend assistance on protecting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) including patent, copyright, geographical indication etc. at state level.
- These PICs are also creating Intellectual Property Cells in Universities (IPCU) of their respective states. As of now 84 IPCU’s have been created in different universities of the states.
- The STI Policy seeks to send a signal to the Indian scientific community, both in the private and public domain, that science, technology and innovation should focus on faster, sustainable and inclusive development of the people. The policy seeks to focus on both STI for people and people for STI.
- A Strong and viable Science, Research and Innovation system for High Technology led path for India (SRISHTI) are the goal for the STI policy.
- Promoting the spread of scientific temper amongst all sections of society.
- Enhancing skills for applications of science among the young from all social sectors.
- Making careers in science, research and innovation attractive enough for talented and bright minds.
- Establishing world class infrastructure for R&D for gaining global leadership in some select frontier areas of science.
- Positioning India among the top five global scientific powers by 2020 (by increasing the share of global scientific publications from 3.5% to over 7% and quadrupling the number of papers in top 1% journals from the current levels)
- Linking contributions of Science Research and innovation system with the inclusive economic growth agenda and combining priorities of excellence and relevance.
- Creating an environment for enhanced private sector participation in R &D.
- Enabling conversion of R & D output with societal and commercial applications by replicating hitherto successful models, as well as establishing of new PPP structures.
- Seeking S&T based high risk innovation through new mechanisms.
- Fostering resource optimized cost-effective innovation across size and technology domains.
- Triggering in the mindset & value systems to recognize respect and reward performances which create wealth from S&T derived knowledge.
- Creating a robust national innovation system
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The main aspirational elements of the STI policy are:
- Raising Gross Expenditure in Research and Development (GERD) to 2% from the present 1% of the GDP in this decade by encouraging enhanced private sector contribution.
- Increasing the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) of R&D personnel in India by at least 66% of the present strength in 5 years.
- Increasing accessibility, availability and affordability of innovations, especially for women, differently-abled and disadvantaged sections of society.
Mechanisms
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Wide ranging mechanisms are envisaged to be deployed to realize the policy aspirations, a few of these are:
- Promoting the spread of scientific temper amongst all sections of society.
- Enhancing skill for applications of science among the young from all social strata
- Making careers in science, research and innovation attractive enough for talented and bright minds.
- Empowering women through appropriate STI inputs and investment
- Facilitating private sector investment in R&D centres in India and overseas.
- Promoting establishment of large R&D facilities in PPP mode with provisions for benefits sharing.
- Permitting multi stakeholders participation in the Indian R&D system.
- Treating R&D in the private sector at par with public institutions for availing public funds.
- Bench marking of R&D funding mechanisms and patterns globally.
- Aligning Venture Capital and Inclusion Innovation Fund systems.
- Sharing of IPRs between inventors and investors.
- Modifying IPR policy to provide for marching rights for social good when supported by public funds and for co-sharing IPRs generated under PPP
- Providing incentives for commercialization of innovations with focus on green manufacturing.
- Closing gaps in the translation of new findings at the grassroots and the commercial space
- Forging strategic partnerships and alliances with other nations through both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation
- Triggering ecosystem changes in attitudes, mindset, values and governance systems of publicly funded institutions engaged in STI activities to recognize, respect and reward performances which create wealth from S&T derived knowledge.
Policy Implementation
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Implementation of the proposals contained in the Policy will necessitate consultations with different government departments/ministries and agencies besides consultations with overarching, science and engineering academies industry and business associations etc .Accordingly DST will establish a Policy Implementation Group to expeditiously operationalise the proposals within the next two years.
Backdrop
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- Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi had announced the Technology Policy Statement (TPS) at the Science Congress in January 1983.
- It focused on the need to attain technological competence and self-reliance.
- Several of the statements of TPS were implemented.
- Subsequently, a Science and Technology Policy (STP) was announced in 2003, seeking to bring science and technology (S&T) together.
- It basically called for integrating programmes of socio-economic sectors with the national R&D system and the creation of a national innovation system.
- The world has changed vastly since then in all spheres of human activity.
- New paradigms of innovation have emerged, arising, among others, out of the pervasive intrusion of internet and globalization.
- Even then systems that foster innovation have become country and context specific.
- India has declared 2010-20 as the “Decade of Innovation.”
- India's demographics have changed significantly too.
- The youthful populations have high expectations and aspirations of the nation.
- The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) 2013 approved by the Union Cabinet is in furtherance of this declaration and aims to bring perspectives to bear on Science & Technology led innovations in the changing context.
