NITI Aayog Pushes R&D Reforms at Fifth Regional Meet in Ahmedabad

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST), hosted the Fifth Regional Consultative Meeting on “Ease of Doing Research & Development (R&D)” at Science City, Ahmedabad, on August 12–13, 2025. The two-day event brought together over 110 participants — including heads of academic and research institutions, policymakers, and experts — to deliberate on strategies for strengthening India’s R&D ecosystem.

The discussions focused on reducing procedural bottlenecks, improving access to knowledge resources, boosting institutional competitiveness, enhancing translational research, and fostering a more enabling environment for innovation.

The meeting opened with a welcome address by Dr. Narottam Sahoo, Advisor & Member Secretary, GUJCOST. Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, stressed the need for structural reforms, agile regulations, and stronger institutional frameworks. Ms. P. Bharathi, IAS, Secretary, DST, Gujarat, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to building a robust research ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Highlighting ISRO’s outreach efforts, Dr. Nilesh Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre (SAC–ISRO), announced a 12-day space science programme to mark ‘National Space Day’. In his keynote address, Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, former Director General of CSIR, evaluated India’s R&D landscape, pinpointed gaps, and proposed actionable solutions.

On the concluding day, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, urged the transformation of Indian research institutions into globally competitive entities. He called for institutional benchmarking, streamlined compliance procedures, and stronger academia–industry linkages to nurture a high-impact research culture.

Key themes of the meeting included strengthening R&D infrastructure, enhancing funding and regulatory frameworks, improving access to knowledge resources, and fostering coordinated efforts for translational research. Participants emphasised the need for simplified funding mechanisms, robust research infrastructure, and responsive regulations to unlock India’s full innovation potential.

Insights from the discussions will contribute to a national strategy aimed at improving the ease of doing R&D in India, positioning the country as an attractive destination for researchers, innovators, and global collaborations.