Boosting R&D and Patent Filing

CONTEXT: There is a need for forward-looking economic and technology policies to channel funds into patenting activity and R&D.

Status of R&D and Patent Filing in India:

• Sluggish Improvement: only 30% of the filing is done by Indians.

• Absence of ecosystem: For R&D is not fully present.
• Nearly eight out of 10 of all patent applications filed in India over the last 13 years were made by researchers abroad.

• Poor ranking: India has a poor global ranking in 

• Ease of starting a business
• Resolving Insolvency
• Paying taxes
• Pupil-teacher ratio at the secondary level
• Environmental performance
• Access to information and communication technology

Opportunities for Innovation in India

• New Innovation Hub: According to Capgemini study, Bangalore has replaced Tokyo as the most preferred R&D destination for MNCs.
• Multinational corporations (MNCs) have set up over 1,165 R&D centres in India
• Transforming local research activity: Shifting from mere cost advantage to value arbitrage in cutting edge technology.

Way Ahead

• Structural reforms: Reforms are required in the area of Steep import Protection, inflated Project costs and lax regulation.

• Nudge towards monetizing the technology.

• Business Academic Connect: Research should improve at 870 odd universities in India.

• Translation of research into viable technologies.

• Policy Inputs: Policy induced Innovation by way of fostering openness and reducing tariff in a time-bound manner.

• Rationalization of tax expenditure in R&D is move in the right direction.

Conclusion: To match nations high on R&D ranking, India needs to have a forward-looking economic and technology policies to channel resources in R&D and patent filing.