At FICCI’s Bharat R&D Summit 2025, experts emphasized strengthening State S&T Councils, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and driving innovation to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) successfully concluded the Bharat R&D Summit 2025, a two-day event held at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi. The summit brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and academia from across India, including Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, to deliberate on the role of research, innovation, and partnerships in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The event focused on strengthening India’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem through increased investment, public-private partnerships (PPP), and region-specific reforms to boost state-level R&D capacity.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor (Science & Technology), NITI Aayog, highlighted the need for greater state-level participation in India’s R&D ecosystem. Citing a NITI Aayog report, he noted that 67% of India’s total research output comes from 450 centrally funded institutions, leaving state institutions lagging behind.
“India cannot become a Viksit Nation unless we have Viksit States,” Dr. Singh said, calling for at least 0.5% of GSDP investment in R&D, deeper industry linkages, and structural reforms to empower State Science and Technology Councils.
He also underlined India’s progress in patent filings (with 56% resident filings) and its rise to the 38th position in the Global Innovation Index, stressing the need to sustain momentum through enhanced R&D funding.
Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaram, Chief Executive Officer, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, outlined ANRF’s mission to make India a global innovation hub. He detailed initiatives such as a ₹1 lakh crore innovation fund, support for early-stage research, and mission-mode programs in areas like electric mobility and AI for science. “The Hon’ble Prime Minister has been clear — ANRF must act as a catalyst, not a crutch,” he said, emphasizing programs like PAIR for institutional collaboration and Saral, an AI-driven platform to democratize research access.
Dr. Nisha Mendiratta, Scientist ‘G’ and Head/Advisor, State S&T Programme (SSTP), Department of Science & Technology (DST), underscored the importance of grassroots R&D and local innovation ecosystems. She advocated for collaborations between Tier-1 institutions and state-level universities to ensure inclusive, region-specific solutions and promote startups through PPP models.
Mr. Chau Dhyana Mungyak, Director and Member Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCT), highlighted the success of APSCT’s initiatives like the Science Technology and Innovation Resource Center and a Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Resources, benefiting over 3,000 individuals through hands-on training in orchid and banana fiber research.
Prof. Arun Kumar Tyagi, Emeritus Scientist, Uttarakhand State Council for Science & Technology (UCOST), addressed the need for tailored innovations for the Himalayan region, focusing on landslide management and seismic resilience. He announced UCOST’s upcoming Science & Technology event in Dehradun (November 27–29, 2025) to further strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration.
Mr. Anubhav Saxena, Chief R&D Officer, Pidilite Industries Limited, pointed out the R&D spending gap in India’s chemical sector, which averages 0.6% of revenue compared to the global 1.1%, calling for stronger academia-industry partnerships.
The summit collectively emphasized that State S&T Councils are the key to translating national innovation policies into localized impact, urging alignment between academic curricula and industry needs while promoting entrepreneurship and startup growth.
Among the 10 shortlisted technologies showcased at the summit, the top three innovators were felicitated for their breakthrough contributions:
- Winner: Prof. Amit Kharkwal, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh – “HNB9- Talaromyces albobiverticillius HNB9: A patented root-colonizing, phosphate-solubilizing fungus enhancing plant growth and yield.”
- 1st Runner-Up: Dr. Sreepriya Vedantam, CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology – “Indigenous technology development for synthesis of Hydrazine Hydrate from lab to commercial scale.”
- 2nd Runner-Up: Dr. Anirbid Sircar, Pandit Deendayal Energy University – “Hydrogen blending into natural gas pipeline infrastructure.”
Concluding the event, FICCI reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem, driving sustainable, inclusive growth, and transforming science and technology into the foundation of a Viksit Bharat.
