New Delhi: To boost the research and development ecosystem in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme fund of Rs 1 lakh crore at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Addressing the event, PM Modi said, “This event is related to science, but first, I will talk about India’s spectacular victory in cricket. The whole of India is extremely happy with the success of our cricket team. This is India’s first Women’s World Cup. I congratulate our women’s cricket team. We are proud of you. Your success will inspire millions of youth across the country.” Prime Minister Modi said, “We have also launched the Research Development and Innovation Scheme. An amount of Rs 1 lakh crore has been earmarked for this. You might think that Rs 1 lakh crore will remain with Modi, so why not clap? This Rs 1 lakh crore is for you. It is to enhance your capabilities. It is to open new opportunities for you.” Our effort is to promote research and development in the private sector as well. For the first time, capital is being made available for high-risk and high-impact projects as well.’ The Prime Minister said, ‘Yesterday, India also made its mark in the world of science and technology. Just yesterday, Indian scientists successfully launched India’s heaviest communication satellite. I heartily congratulate all the scientists involved in this mission, including ISRO.’
Today is also a big day for the world of science and technology. In the twenty-first century, there was a great need for experts from across the world to come together to brainstorm and jointly guide emerging science, technology, and innovation. This need gave birth to an idea. And this idea led to the conception of this conference.
The impact of the policies and decisions made over the past few years to transform India into an innovation hub is now clearly visible. I would like to present some statistics with great satisfaction. Our research and development expenditure has doubled in the last decade. The number of patents registered in India has increased 17-fold. India now has the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. Today, we have over 6,000 deeptech startups working in areas like clean energy and advanced materials. India’s semiconductor sector is also growing rapidly.
At the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India is no longer a consumer of technology, but a leader in technology-driven transformation. During COVID, we developed an indigenous vaccine in record time. We launched the world’s largest vaccination program. This was possible because today we have the world’s first and most successful digital public infrastructure.”
PM Modi further said, “The number of women in this field in patent filings was less than 100 annually a decade ago. Now it has increased to over 5,000 annually. The share of women in STEM education is around 43%, which is higher than the global average. I was in an elevator with the Minister of Science and Technology of a developed country. He asked me, ‘Do girls in India study science and technology?’ When I told him about these statistics, he was astonished. This is what India’s daughters have achieved. These figures show how rapidly women in India are progressing in the field of science and technology.’
The RDI Scheme Fund aims to promote the private sector-driven research and development ecosystem in the country. The ‘ESTIC 2025’ conference, to be held from November 3 to 5, will attract over 3,000 participants from academia, research institutions, industry, and government, as well as Nobel laureates, eminent scientists, innovators, and policymakers.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the discussions will focus on 11 key thematic areas. These include advanced materials and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, the blue economy, digital communications, electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, emerging agricultural technologies, energy, environment and climate, health and medical technologies, quantum science and technology, and space technologies.
The statement further stated, “ESTIC 2025 will feature lectures by leading scientists, panel discussions, presentations, and technology demonstrations that will provide a platform for collaboration between researchers, industry, and young innovators to strengthen India’s science and technology ecosystem.”
According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, ESTIC 2025 is a platform for young innovators, startups, and researchers to showcase innovative solutions, seek guidance, and connect with industry and stakeholders. ESTIC 2025 is designed as an outcome-oriented platform that celebrates the contributions of stakeholders while fostering collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, and funding bodies.
