Earlier this year Nokia, a Finnish multinational, announced its collaboration with the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bengaluru for research in 6G technologies. The joint research will be conducted at the company’s newly inaugurated 6G lab in Bengaluru.
Cut to Wipro, an information technology (IT) giant, which is partnering with IISc to offer its employees a course in artificial intelligence (AI).
While academia-industry partnerships have been prevalent in the West for a while, in India it had not really gelled. But things are slowly changing, and the reasons are twofold.
First, the realisation among university dons that research has to keep in mind market needs. And second, the squeeze in funding from the central government.
Funding Autumn
In the Union Budget for 2024–25, the allocation for the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been slashed by over 60%, dropping to Rs 2,500 crore from Rs 6,409 crore in the revised budget estimate of the previous year. The budget for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) also witnessed a slight dip from 2023–24 revised estimates of Rs 10,384.21 crore to Rs 10,324.50 crore in the budget. The allocation for Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) has been slashed for the second consecutive year.
Despite the government focus on research and development (R&D), the expenditure as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) has declined in the past few years. Although absolute spending has increased from Rs 60,197 crore in 2010–11 to Rs 1,27,381 crore in 2020–21, India currently spends just about 0.65% on R&D as a share of GDP as against the global average of about 1.8%.
The budget for the department of higher education has not seen any significant change over the years. In 2012–13, the budget was set at 0.27% of the GDP, and a decade later, in 2023–24, it dipped to 0.26%.
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Outlook Business.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Outlook Business.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
From Chandni Chowk to Global Recognition
For Manish Aggarwal, director at Bikano, Bikanervala Foods, the family business was not just a responsibility but a passion he took to the global stage
Spotting AI Scams
Al has become an integral part of our lives, from customer service no insurance claims. But it is also becoming a tool for fraudsters who use it to scam individuals and corporations
Let a Hundred Flowers Bloom
On the banks of the Ganges in industrial Kanpur, a start-up has blossomed that turns waste flowers into incense
BATTERY LOW
India produces enough green energy to power many of its largest cities yet lacks the storage to use it efficiently. A nation blazing forward must leap ahead in battery technology to stay on course
We Have Everything Going for Rajasthan
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Rajasthan’s industry and commerce minister, tells Pushpita Dey why the state is suited to become a hub for investments.
Dairy and Other Dilemmas
India’s refusal to open its dairy market has complicated trade negotiations for years. As global partners demand concessions, is the cost of protectionism outweighing benefits?
Riding in a Maze
As gig workers ride into an uncertain future with little more than a smartphone and a bike, the government is struggling to arrange a socialsafety net. But millions without social security is recipe for disaster
BIRLA'S BIGGEST BATTLE
As Kumar Mangalam Birla completes 30 years at the helm of the Aditya Birla Group, he has a battle to defend his businesses and conquer new ones
THE INNOVATION LEAP
India dreams of becoming a product nation. But unless the corporate sector significantly increases spending on R&D, the country will continue to lag behind global peers
EDUCATION BUDGET MUST DOUBLE EVERY 3 YEARS
Veezhinathan Kamakoti, a renowned academic and director of Indian Institute of Technology Madras, tells Deepsekhar Choudhury on what technology sovereignty means for India and how it can propel the country towards its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
