Opinion R needs D
It is high time India developed a strong research ecosystem
The PMs address at the recent Indian Science Congress indicated some key actions which must be pondered by those within the scientific community and the larger society. He spoke of the need to boost research,a key driver of the socio-economic engine. The value of research is self-evident: social challenges are examined and new knowledge is generated.
A research ecosystem,which India needs,has several elements. First is the agenda of research. It must address societal needs like energy,environment,communication,water,food and infrastructure. Furthermore,specific goals help accelerate research efforts. The announcement of US President Kennedy,By the end of this decade,we shall put a man on the moon,in 1961 set the agenda for the American scientific community for a decade and more. Once a global target is set,the agenda gets developed. The main goal is accomplished by an interdisciplinary approach. The compartmental- isation of academic and research departments are purely for organisational purposes. The agenda of research requires truly an interdisciplinary thinking.
The second step in the development of research ecosystem is the creation of infrastructure. The old culture of workshops has now been replaced by computer-controlled machines for prototyping work. Clean rooms,wet laboratories,sample preparation facilities and a variety of microscopes are essential for carrying out research that can compete at the international level. It is essential not only to establish these facilities but also to maintain them.
A key element is,however,human resource. Countries like the US attract talent from all over the world to ensure that the best and the brightest are available to achieve the goals of research. The best environments of research are nurtured in universities. In fact,the term research university is used for an institution of higher education with a rich infrastructure and a pool of research academicians-scientists. They create the research agenda,which is funded by national agencies.
The fourth element is the system of management. The Indian government has several schemes to attract the youth towards research careers,but more needs to be done. Besides financial incentives,research offers an open,free environment. Such indirect benefits need to be highlighted. It is also desirable that India open up the world of higher education and research to foreigners with the right background and talent. Management policies should appreciate the research output patents,publications,process designs,algorithms,databases,books,monographs and technical reports that brings in tangible contributions to society.
The fifth element is funding support. It is certainly low in India and needs to be increased. Besides enhanced support from Indian government,private funds should go up. The level of funding and its priority are important. Indian universities need sustainable financial support to carry out long-term research programmes. Inter-university centres of research are also needed in greater numbers.
Innovation and incubation is the last element but not the least. Academic institutions,research laboratories and other establishments have to travel the last mile to convert knowledge they have created to some form of wealth,to incubate new ventures. Some of them will flourish and change the face of the economy. So far,India has thrived on import culture of innovation and incubation. It is no longer a smart strategy. Today,I&I (innovation and incubation) is an integral part of the research ecosystem.
University system is key to the overall research ecosystem. This can happen if large-scale research facilities are established and operated by universities. Jet Propulsion Lab a leading facility for space research is operated by Caltech. Berkeley National Laboratory,Livermore lab,Argonne lab,Brookhaven lab,Draper lab are examples of large research facilities in US universities. Such a culture brings a different atmosphere of research to campuses. Indian universities need to move in this direction to develop a strong research ecosystem.
Research is no longer a national agenda. It is indeed an international landscape. Hence,comparisons and rankings become important to some extent. Asian countries have developed an impressive track record in the recent past. Europeans and Americans may have slowed down during this period. However,the size of overall research system is so large in these countries that a marginal decrease has not affected their basic competitiveness. India needs to develop a strategy unique to its internal challenges as well as external rankings. Indians enjoy high appreciation for their talent in research. However,India does not figure as a top-ranking country in research competitiveness. That is why there is a need to develop the research ecosystem.
The writer is director,IIT Kanpur.
Views are personal
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