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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Third regional consultation on Ease of Doing R&D concludes at IIT Jammu with strategic roadmap for reform
While India 's investment in research and development (R&D) has continued to increase in the last decade, the country's expenditure as a percentage of GDP remained between 0.6% to 0.7%, government data shows. To enhance R&D and develop an ecosystem that is agile, innovation-driven, and future-ready, The Indian Institute of Technology ( IIT ) Jammu, in collaboration with NITI Aayog , hosted the third edition of the Regional Consultative Meeting on Ease of Doing Research and Development (R&D) on 14–15 July 2025 at its Jagti campus. The two-day summit was a part of a broader national initiative to reform and reimagine India's R&D ecosystem through regionally grounded, high-level stakeholder engagement. The event was inaugurated by Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office. Singh attended as the Chief Guest, reaffirming the Government of India's commitment to scientific advancement and research-led national growth. According to a statement, also present were Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog; Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur, Director, IIT Jammu; Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh, President, The National Academy of Sciences, India; and Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, alongside senior representatives from scientific ministries, funding agencies, and over 50 research institutions, laboratories, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh , and Punjab. According to Government data, India's R&D spending doubled in the last one decade from Rs 60,196 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,27,381 crore and is shaping the future economy of India which will be defined by homegrown innovations in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. According to the latest Economic Survey, while government R&D policies and interventions have been making sustained efforts, there is a need for more contribution from the private sector. The funding for R&D in India is predominantly sourced from government entities. Live Events In contrast, the Survey says in most developed and emerging economies, business enterprises contribute over 50 percent to the GERD. In countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and the USA, this share exceeds 70 percent. In the USA, the private sector leads, with companies like Google and Amazon accounting for about 70 percent of R&D spending. China, on the other hand, has a combination of major government funding with rising private sector involvement, leading to R&D spending of about 2.1 per cent of its GDP. The consultative meeting is part of a multi-city initiative undertaken by NITI Aayog to gather actionable inputs from heads of R&D institutions, higher educational Institutions (HEIs), and Universities. Around 40 leaders from across Jammu &, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab are participating in this third regional consultation. The key objective of the meeting was to deliberate on policy and procedural bottlenecks that hinder research productivity and innovation in India. The discussions are designed to focus on the simplification of procurement and financial systems, autonomy in institutional decision-making, and improved research infrastructure and funding frameworks. It also looked at ways to enhance inter-institutional and industry-academia collaborations and capacity building in emerging geographies outside metro-centric ecosystems According to a statement, this regional dialogue builds upon the foundations laid during the earlier consultations at Raj Bhawan, Lucknow (May 2025) and CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun (June 2025). The insights generated during the Jammu meeting will feed into a national-level reform blueprint being developed by NITI Aayog for the future of Indian R&D. Participants emphasized the importance of aligning national R&D objectives with global benchmarks while ensuring inclusivity across regions and institutions. Several speakers called for policy innovation to bridge the gap between research and commercialization, alongside improving ease of access to funding and reducing procedural delays. In his address, Saraswat, emphasized on the strategic importance of enabling policy reforms to ease systemic bottlenecks, while professor Gaur, praised the collaborative initiative and emphasized the critical need to streamline research ecosystems across institutions. Professor Singh, who is a Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog, elaborated on the objectives of the national-level initiative. He outlined the key dimensions being explored under the Ease of Doing R&D initiative. According to a statement the meeting featured insights from a diverse group of eminent speakers and focused thematic discussions aimed at strengthening the country's research landscape. Discussions included strategies to accelerate R&D in academic institutions by enhancing infrastructure, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and improving access to funding. Deliberations also addressed the need to empower R&D personnel through reforms in recruitment, retention, and capacity-building mechanisms, enabling them to undertake cutting-edge research. Another key focus area was the translation of academic research—publications and patents—into marketable products, emphasizing the promotion of industry-academia linkages and incentivizing innovation. The sessions also explored critical policy reforms and systemic changes required to enhance the overall ease of doing R&D in India. In India, incentives like grants, loans, tax exemptions, patent-related incentives etc. are given for R&D. In addition to these incentives, initiatives like Start-Up India, Digital India, and the Atal Innovation Mission have been introduced to foster entrepreneurship, research, and technological advancement. To provide financial support to industries, the government has also created the Technology Development Board. Many state governments provide stamp duty waivers and concessions, and soft loans.
The Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
Trump says Indonesia to face 19pc tariff under trade deal
Global views of China and Xi improve, while they decline about the US and Trump, survey says
Hans India
5 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Licensed Surveyors Urged to Embrace Advanced Technology for Accurate Land Mapping: Collector Santosh
Gadwal: District Collector B.M. Santosh emphasized that only when licensed surveyors adopt and implement modern technology in the field can land surveys be carried out with precision. He made these remarks while participating in a training program for licensed surveyors held on Monday at the MPDO office in the district headquarters. Speaking on the occasion, the Collector stated that the state government has introduced the Bhoobharati Act-2025 to resolve land-related issues comprehensively. He mentioned that survey maps will now be a mandatory requirement in processes like registration and mutation, which is why licensed surveyors are being specially trained. He explained that the training program, which began on May 26, is currently in its final phase, focusing on specialized training in Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) equipment. Given the rapid technological advancements, the use of modern tools like DGPS in land surveying has become essential. This technology enables highly accurate land measurements in less time, helping clearly identify the boundaries and extents of agricultural lands, thereby effectively preventing future land disputes. The Collector stressed the importance of thoroughly understanding the equipment used during the training and noted that true expertise lies in the ability to implement the skills learned in practical fieldwork. Upon completion of the training, those who pass the final assessment will be awarded the Licensed Surveyor Certificate. He urged participants to make the most of this opportunity and become licensed surveyors, highlighting that their appointment not only improves employment opportunities but also contributes significantly to resolving land disputes. The event was attended by Survey, Land and Records Assistant Director Ram Chander, mandal-level surveyors, trainees, and other officials.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
AI Dating App Features Aren't Landing With Gen Z, New Survey Finds
Dating app companies' sizable investments in artificial intelligence could be in vain as Gen Z users remain wary of the new AI features, a new Bloomberg Intelligence survey found. Gen Z, which broadly dates less than older cohorts, reported higher discomfort than millennials with using AI to draft profile prompts and responses to messages, or to modify profile pictures, according to a survey of nearly 1,000 US respondents. The questionnaire was conducted by Attest on behalf of BI between May 15 and 29.
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
UN Flags Low Uptake Of Sustainable Trade Facilitation Measures And Support For Vulnerable Groups
The United Nations is urging governments to accelerate efforts to make trade systems more inclusive and sustainable, highlighting limited support for vulnerable groups including small and medium-sized enterprises, women traders and the agricultural sector despite steady progress in broader trade facilitation. 'The global trading environment has recently faced unprecedented challenges. Extensive tariff measures have introduced uncertainty and increased trade costs, while broader disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains. These trends underscore the urgent need to enhance the efficiency, transparency and resilience of international trade systems,' shared Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). According to the sixth United Nations Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, progress has been observed in more efficient trade facilitation with the global implementation rate improving by five percentage points over the last two years. The global average implementation rate currently stands at 70 per cent. Developed economies performed strongly (86 per cent) followed by countries in South-East and East Asia (81 per cent). Pacific countries have the lowest implementation rate at 45 per cent. In the Asia-Pacific region, overall trade facilitation implementation increased by five percentage points between 2023 and 2025, with the highest rates observed in Australia and New Zealand, as well as East and North-East Asia. Implementation of measures under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement remains robust, while cross-border paperless trade facilitation has shown the greatest improvement. Improvements in legal frameworks for electronic transactions and digital authentication also signal growing commitment to modernising trade. Meanwhile, regional and subregional initiatives such as the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, have been instrumental in driving global progress. These initiatives can further support countries in transitioning from paper-based to paperless and eventually cross-border paperless trade by offering a dedicated, inclusive and capacity-building intergovernmental platform. This year's Survey has also introduced new and forward-looking measures on cross-border e-commerce and green trade facilitation. As climate challenges intensify, aligning trade with environmental goals becomes increasingly urgent. More research and efforts on the greening of trade will be necessary. The UN Survey, covering 180 economies, is jointly conducted by the Economic Commission for Africa, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and United Nations Trade and Development. It aims to support countries in identifying trade facilitation gaps and priorities, as well as inform future research and policy responses across regions and globally. The Survey is coordinated by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Note: The survey and latest data are available at The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.
