Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Ajay Kumar Sood, has outlined ambitious goals for India's scientific prowess, aiming for a top-three position globally by 2047.
In an exclusive interview with Amitabh Sinha, Sood emphasized the need for India to significantly enhance its scientific output across various indicators to achieve this target.
"India must emerge as one of the three leading nations in science and research by 2047 to fulfill its aspirations of becoming a developed nation," he said.
Acknowledging India's strong scientific traditions and base, Sood highlighted the imperative to bridge the gap between potential and contribution, citing current indicators that place India below the global average in scientific strength.
Sood elaborated on key metrics such as general expenditure on research and development (GERD), researcher density, gender representation in science, patent filings, and publication quality, emphasizing the significance of attaining excellence across these parameters.
Sood pointed out the interconnectedness with India's overall progress, particularly in economic growth. He emphasized the critical role of breakthrough technologies in driving economic development, asserting that India must lead in scientific endeavors to achieve its developmental goals.
Sood highlighted the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF) as a pivotal initiative. He emphasized NRF's role in promoting research in universities and colleges, expanding the research base, and attracting new resources to fund research endeavors.
Sood also addressed the historical decline of research in the university system and stressed the need to rectify this systemic fault.
He underlined the importance of leveraging government spending to attract private investment in research and development, strengthening long-term partnerships between academia, industry, and enhancing technology deployment capabilities.
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