Ahmedabad, Aug 14(HS): In a decisive step towards transforming India into a global research powerhouse, NITI Aayog convened the Fifth Regional Consultative Meeting on “Ease of Doing Research & Development (R&D)” at Science City, Ahmedabad, on August 12–13. Jointly hosted by GUJCOST, the two-day conclave brought together more than 110 thought leaders — including heads of premier academic and research institutions and senior policymakers — to chart a course for an agile, innovation-driven R&D ecosystem.

The forum focused on cutting procedural red tape, boosting institutional competitiveness, increasing access to high-quality knowledge resources, and driving translational research that bridges the gap between laboratories and real-world applications.

Opening the event, Dr. Narottam Sahoo, Advisor and Member Secretary, GUJCOST, welcomed participants. Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, underscored the urgency of structural reform, agile regulatory frameworks, and stronger institutions to accelerate India’s R&D growth.

P. Bharathi, IAS, Secretary, DST–Gujarat, reiterated the state’s alignment with the PM’s Viksit Bharat vision, while Dr. Nilesh Desai, Director of SAC–ISRO, unveiled a 12-day ‘National Space Day’ outreach programme and called for streamlining India’s research processes.

Delivering an incisive keynote, Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, former DG–CSIR, pinpointed critical gaps in the R&D landscape and outlined actionable strategies to close them. In the closing session, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, urged the transformation of Indian research bodies into globally benchmarked, industry-linked centres of excellence. He emphasised that reducing friction across the research lifecycle is essential for self-reliance in critical technologies.

Strategic Themes Discussed

The deliberations covered:

- Strengthening R&D infrastructure and funding mechanisms

- Responsive regulatory reforms to match global best practices

- Institutional benchmarking for competitive performance

- Streamlined compliance to cut bureaucratic delays

- Deepened academia–industry interfaces to drive innovation impact

Participants concurred that coordinated national efforts, robust research infrastructure, and simplified processes are the keys to unlocking India’s full innovation potential.

NITI Aayog confirmed that insights from this meeting will directly inform a National Strategy for Ease of Doing R&D, aimed at positioning India as a preferred global destination for cutting-edge research, innovation, and international collaboration.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar