At FICCI’s Bharat R&D Summit 2025, experts emphasized strengthening State S&T Councils, enhancing industry-academia collaboration, and investing in innovation to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) successfully hosted the two-day Bharat R&D Summit 2025 at FICCI Federation House, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and academic experts from across India. The event focused on accelerating India’s research and innovation ecosystem through deeper collaboration between industry, academia, and government—aiming to advance the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor (S&T), NITI Aayog, underscored the crucial role of State Science and Technology Councils in expanding India’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem. Citing a NITI Aayog report from July 2025, he noted that 67% of India’s research output is concentrated in 450 centrally funded institutions, leaving state-level institutions underrepresented.
“India cannot become a Viksit Nation unless we have Viksit States,” said Dr. Singh, calling for structural reforms, greater industry linkages, and at least 0.5% of GSDP investment in R&D.
He further highlighted India’s impressive rise to 38th place in the Global Innovation Index and the growing share of resident patent filings, stressing the urgency to sustain momentum through enhanced state-level research capacity.
Speaking on India’s evolving innovation landscape, Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaram, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), outlined ANRF’s strategic vision under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. He detailed plans for mission-driven programs in electric mobility, AI for science, and a ₹1 lakh crore innovation fund to boost deep-tech investments.
“We aim to be a catalyst—not a crutch—for India’s innovation growth,” Dr. Kalyanaram emphasized, highlighting initiatives like PAIR (Partnerships for Advancing Institutional Research) and Saral, an AI-driven platform democratizing access to research tools.
Dr. Nisha Mendiratta, Scientist ‘G’ and Head/Advisor, State S&T Programme (DST), emphasized the need to promote grassroots-level R&D that addresses local challenges. She called for stronger participation from state institutions and startups to deliver region-specific, sustainable solutions through public-private partnerships (PPP).
Representing the North-East, Mr. Chau Dhyana Mungyak, Director-cum-Member Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCT), shared insights on fostering inclusive growth through collaboration. He showcased APSCT’s initiatives such as the Science, Technology and Innovation Resource Center on the I-STEM platform, and the Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Resources, which have collectively trained over 3,000 individuals in areas like orchid and banana fiber research.
Prof. Arun Kumar Tyagi, Emeritus Scientist, Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), highlighted the importance of region-specific innovations to tackle Himalayan challenges such as landslides and seismic activity. UCOST, he noted, is empowering 10,000 S&T champions to work at the village level on disaster management and livelihood initiatives. He also invited delegates to UCOST’s upcoming Science and Technology Event in Dehradun (November 27–29, 2025).
Addressing the R&D investment gap from an industry perspective, Mr. Anubhav Saxena, Chief R&D Officer, Pidilite Industries Ltd, pointed out that India’s chemical sector invests only 0.6% of revenue in R&D, compared to the global average of 1.1%. He called for greater participation from India’s 1,300 educational institutions beyond the top 50 and advocated for structured academia-industry exchanges to build a robust innovation ecosystem.
The summit’s deliberations emphasized that State S&T Councils are essential for translating national innovation policies into local impact—bridging academia, government, and industry while aligning education with emerging industry needs.
Among the 10 shortlisted technologies showcased, three innovators were recognized for their outstanding contributions:
- Winner: Prof. Amit Kharkwal, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh — for developing HNB9, a patented fungus that enhances plant growth and yield through phosphate solubilization.
- 1st Runner-Up: Dr. Sreepriya Vedantam, CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology — for developing indigenous technology for synthesizing Hydrazine Hydrate at commercial scale.
- 2nd Runner-Up: Dr. Anirbid Sircar, Pandit Deendayal Energy University — for pioneering Hydrogen Blending in natural gas pipelines.
Concluding the summit, FICCI reaffirmed its commitment to advancing India’s R&D landscape through collaborative innovation, sustainable growth, and regional empowerment, aligning science and technology with the nation’s developmental aspirations.
