India’s R&D Ecosystem Faces Funding Delays, Administrative Burden Despite Growth: NITI Aayog

New Delhi, Aug 27 (KNN) India’s R&D ecosystem continues to face procedural and administrative hurdles despite growth in research papers, patents and startups, according to a NITI Aayog report.

The Ease of Doing Research & Development report identified repeated grant applications, funding delays, cumbersome procurement, staff vacancies and excessive administrative controls as key challenges. 

It also flagged a significant trust deficit between funding agencies and researchers, which limits scientists’ ability to focus on research, reported Times Of India.

Grant Delays Disrupt Research

India’s R&D spending has remained around 0.6 per cent of GDP for over a decade, with public institutions accounting for about 64 per cent of total expenditure, reflecting limited private-sector participation.

The report noted growing competition for grants, with grant rates below 10 per cent at several agencies. Even approved projects can face fund-release delays of three to six months, while year-end fund withdrawals and reallocations can disrupt research and fellowship payments.

Shortage Of Researchers And Administrative Staff

India has around 262 full-time equivalent researchers per million people, far below China’s 1,585 and the US and UK’s 4,821 each.

The postdoctoral ecosystem is also limited, with about 2,500 fellowships annually, while PhD scholars may wait four to five months for their first fellowship installment. Vacant posts, limited staff flexibility and the lack of professional R&D offices further add to researchers’ administrative burden.

Funding Concentration And Technology Transfer Concerns

India has increased its research publications and patents, but weak technology-transfer infrastructure continues to limit the conversion of research into commercial products.

The report also flagged concentration in R&D funding, noting that IITs receive over 80 per cent of ANRF funding. While funding need not be evenly distributed, excessive concentration could limit opportunities for researchers in State and other higher education institutions.

NITI Aayog Calls For Trust-Based R&D Governance

Former IIA director Prof Jayanth Murthy flagged delays in disbursing committed funds, particularly PhD stipends, along with the administrative and audit burden on researchers.

NITI Aayog recommended a trust-based, outcome-focused R&D framework with professional research offices, greater institutional autonomy, faster grant processing and stronger technology-transfer systems. 

It said reducing procedural hurdles would allow scientists to focus more on research and strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem.

(KNN Bureau)