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Science Technology & Innovation (STI) Policy 2013 - Salient Features, Highlights, Criticism
Science Technology & Innovation (STI) Policy 2013 - Salient Features, Highlights, Criticism
Timeline
1958
1983
2003
2013
2010-
20
SRISHTI
Goal of new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) policy =
SRISHTI.
SRISHTI= Science, Research and innovation system for High technology led
path for India. (that is not SRISHTI.that is SRISHTLPFI, but these Government
officials will forcibly turn any scheme into a catchy phrase to harass the UPSC
aspirants.)
#2: Manpower
Well promote the spread of scientific temper amongst all sections of society.
Well try to attract talented and bright minds towards careers in science,
research and innovation.
Well increase the number of R&D personnel by 66% in next five years.
Well create environment for women to enter in R&D field.
well setup inter university centers= bringing together different disciplines of
#3: Business
Well identify 10 sectors of high potential and put more resources into it for
S&T.
Indias share in high tech products is around 8% globally. We want to double
this.
Well increase R&D intentsity in Service sector, small and medium scale
enterprises.
The investment in S&T is risky. So, We (Government) will share the risk with
private sector, this will increase their confidence.
Well provide new financing mechanisms for entrepreneurs (=loans at cheaper
interest rate) so they can venture in R&D without the fear of failure.
Well create a public procurement policy that favors indigenous innovations.
(for example, if new type of pencil is developed by Indians and S.Koreans, then
Government departments will buy Indian pencils rather than Korean pencils)
Well achieve synergy between R&D policy for agriculture vs. STI policy.
#5: PPP
Well setup a National science, Technology and innovation foundation. This will
help investing in S&T projects via PPP.
Well setup large scale R&D facilities via PPP mode.
When it comes to giving public funds, well treat private sector R&D institutions
at par with public sector institutions.
#6: IPR
Well modify the Intellectual property rights(IPR) for social goods, IPR
generated under PPP.
Well launch Technology business incubators (TBIs) and science-led
entrepreneurship.
Well provide incentives for green manufacturing.
For sharing IPRs between Investors and inventors, well setup regulatory and
legal framework.
#7: Participation
Inclusion
NGOs
Well give NGOs pivotal role for delivery science-tech-innovation outputs
especially related with rural / grassroot level.
Lot of new grassroot innovations are taking place, but they donot transform into
commercial applications, well try to bridge this gap.
Various ministries associated with socio-economic sectors, are already running
schemes for R&D in their sector. Under new STI policy, well try to leverage
and coordinate these spending.
State Governments
State Governments are important stakeholders, so well setup state specific
plans under new STI policy and well also strengthen the Sci-Tech councils /
boards in the States.
Centrally developed plans for investments are rigid. Well provide flexible
approach, to fine-tune Five year plan schemes in response to rapid changes in
S&T.
International
Well forge strategic partnerships and alliances with other nations through both
bilateral and multilateral cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
Modern science requires truckload of resources. So well setup some
international consortia with other countries to create high cost global
infrastructure.
Science diplomacy, technology synergy with other countries.
Criticism
#1: private sector =no social good
1. On one hand, STI policy wants inclusive Development and social goods. But on
the other hand, it says the investment in R&D sector is very low and well bring
more investment from private sector.
2. Here comes the problem: When private sector invests in R&D, their aim is
always profitability.
3. Theyre not much interested in delivery of social goods.
4. For example a drug company would rather prefer to do research on new diabetes
related drug / supplement rather than some new product to combat malnutrition.
Same way, iphone6 vs. clean energy / water recycling.
In this policy, Government says additional R&D investment will come from
private sector = indirectly theyre hinting that we (the State) are not interested in
R&D investment because we want to control fiscal deficit. But history tells us
that no country, has developed without massive State investment in R&D.
Policy document repeatedly emphasizes that both economic growth and social good
will be pursued through STI. But there are two sets of problems here,
1. Can private sector funded R&D directly deliver social goods?
2. Can science really tackle the social sector problems (gender parity,
inclusiveness) on its own, without the necessary political will?
Mock Questions
Mains
1. Write a note on the New Science Tech Innovation Policy of 2013. (12/15
marks)
Essay
1. Gender Parity
2. Green Economy
3. Role of Science technology and innovation in social empowerment.