NITI Aayog’s Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh Urges 0.5% GSDP Investment in R&D to Build “Viksit States” at FICCI Bharat R&D Summit 2025

NITI Aayog’s Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh Urges 0.5% GSDP Investment in R&D to Build “Viksit States” at FICCI Bharat R&D Summit 2025

Summit highlights collaboration between industry, academia, and government as the cornerstone of India’s innovation-driven growth and regional development by 2047

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) successfully concluded the two-day Bharat R&D Summit 2025 at the FICCI Federation House in New Delhi. The event brought together eminent leaders from industry, academia, and government representing states such as Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. The summit emphasized the importance of strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem to align with the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Throughout the summit, speakers highlighted the need for greater collaboration among stakeholders, public–private partnerships (PPPs), and strategic policy reforms to bolster India’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) framework.

Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor (S&T), NITI Aayog, stressed that “India cannot become a Viksit Bharat without Viksit states.” Citing a NITI Aayog report (July 10, 2025), he revealed that 67% of India’s research output originates from 450 centrally funded institutions, while state institutions lag behind. He called for an investment of at least 0.5% of a state’s GSDP in R&D, coupled with structural reforms and stronger industry linkages. Dr. Singh also highlighted India’s improved ranking—38th in the Global Innovation Index—and noted that resident patent filings now account for 56%, underscoring the need for sustained R&D growth.

Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaram, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), elaborated on ANRF’s mission as a statutory body chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. He detailed initiatives such as a ₹1 lakh crore innovation fund, mission-mode programs in AI and electric mobility, and schemes like PAIR for inter-institutional collaboration. “The Prime Minister has been clear that we should be a catalyst—not a crutch—for India’s innovation journey,” he remarked.

Dr. Nisha Mendiratta, Scientist ‘G’ and Head, State S&T Programme (SSTP), DST, emphasized promoting grassroots R&D through collaboration between Tier-1 organizations and state institutions. She noted that State S&T Councils are crucial in identifying region-specific needs, promoting startups, and ensuring that innovation benefits local communities through PPP models.

NITI Aayog’s Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh Urges 0.5% GSDP Investment in R&D to Build “Viksit States” at FICCI Bharat R&D Summit 2025

Mr. Chau Dhyana Mungyak, Director cum Member Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCT), underscored that inclusive innovation requires collaboration among academia, industry, and government. He cited APSCT initiatives such as a Science, Technology & Innovation Resource Center (linked to I-STEM) and a Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Resources, which have trained over 3,000 individuals in areas like orchid and banana fiber research.

Prof. Arun Kumar Tyagi, Emeritus Scientist, Uttarakhand State Council for Science & Technology (UCOST), discussed state-led innovations addressing Himalayan challenges like landslides and seismic risks. UCOST, he shared, is empowering 10,000 S&T champions to serve rural communities through science-based interventions. He also invited delegates to UCOST’s Science and Technology Conclave 2025 in Dehradun (Nov 27–29).

Mr. Anubhav Saxena, Chief R&D Officer, Pidilite Industries, pointed out that India’s chemical industry invests only 0.6% of its revenue in R&D, compared to the global average of 1.1%. He urged greater participation from India’s 1,300 lesser-known institutes and advocated for structured academia–industry exchange programs to bridge the innovation gap.

The summit reaffirmed the crucial role of State Science and Technology Councils in translating national innovation strategies into localized solutions and highlighted the value of platforms like I-STEM for democratizing access to research infrastructure.

NITI Aayog’s Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh Urges 0.5% GSDP Investment in R&D to Build “Viksit States” at FICCI Bharat R&D Summit 2025

A highlight of the event was the Technology Innovation Awards, recognizing cutting-edge scientific achievements from across India. From over 100 entries, ten were shortlisted, and three were awarded top honors:

  • Winner: Prof. Amit Kharkwal, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh — “HNB9–Talaromyces albobiverticillius HNB9: A patented root-colonizing, phosphate-solubilizing fungus promoting plant growth and yield.”
  • 1st Runner-Up: Dr. Sreepriya Vedantam, CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology — “Indigenous synthesis of Hydrazine Hydrate from lab to commercial scale.”
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Dr. Anirbid Sircar, Pandit Deendayal Energy University — “Hydrogen blending into the natural gas pipeline infrastructure.”

The Bharat R&D Summit 2025 concluded with a unified call to action: to invest, innovate, and collaborate across all levels—national, state, and local—to ensure that India’s path to Viksit Bharat by 2047 is powered by research, technology, and collective will.

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