According to reports, the Union Cabinet has granted approval for the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023. The Bill aims to establish an apex body that will support and promote research and development (R&D) across universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories throughout India. The government has allocated ₹50,000 crore over the next five years for this initiative.

In a statement, the Centre mentioned, "The approved Bill will pave the way to establish NRF that will seed, grow and promote Research and Development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories." The creation of the NRF aligns with the recommendations outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP).

The allocated ₹50,000 crores will be sourced through multiple avenues. The government plans to raise ₹36,000 crores through investments from industries and philanthropists, while the remaining amount will be funded by the government. Specifically, ₹10,000 crores will be provided by the Centre, and ₹4,000 crores will be obtained by subsuming the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) into the NRF.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized that the NRF will establish a vibrant research ecosystem beyond the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and ensure uniform development of research institutions across the country.

The concept of a dedicated funding agency for research in India was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 during his address at the Indian Science Congress. The idea took shape between 2020 and 2022.

An official from the Ministry of Science and Technology explained that there is currently a significant disparity in funding for research institutes in the country. The majority of funding goes to institutions such as the IITs due to their infrastructure and rankings, while other universities and state-level institutes often lack the necessary financial support. The NRF aims to address this disparity.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will serve as the administrative department for the NRF. The foundation will have a governing body headed by the Prime Minister as the ex-officio president and an executive council chaired by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.

The government highlighted that the NRF will facilitate collaborations among industry, academia, government departments, and research institutions. It will establish mechanisms for the participation and contribution of industries, state governments, and scientific and line ministries. Additionally, the NRF will focus on creating a policy framework and regulatory processes to encourage collaboration and increased investment by the industry in research and development.

Image source: ANI