Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Linkage between Educational Institutes and Industry
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.365 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13/12/2019

## LINKAGE BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRY

- *365. SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken steps for improving the linkage between educational institutes and industry to promote research and development that meets the demands of the market;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for promoting the contribution of women scientists in the field of Science and Technology;
- (d) the  achievements  of  the  Government  with  respect  to  the  'Scheme  for  Young  Scientists  and Technologists' in addressing the problems of the society; and
- (e) the achievements of the Government under the scheme 'Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research Programme (INSPIRE)'?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी

डॉ. हष वधन

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  AS  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.365 FOR 13/12/2019 REGARDING LINKAGE BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRY ASKED BY SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI

(a) & (b): Government has taken several significant steps for improving the linkage between educational institutes  and  industry  to  promote  research  and  development  (R&D)  that  meets  the  demands  of  the market. The Government has adopted three-pronged strategy to link educational institutes and industry. First  strategy  has  been  building  platforms  to  bring  both  academics  and  industry  together  on  industry relevant (R&D) projects. Secondly, opportunities have been created for building industry trained human resource to connect research with society. Thirdly, to institute favourable policy frameworks to initiate Start-Ups and industries to advantageously connect research outcome from laboratories to the market.

The  Department  of  Science  &  Technology  (DST)  is  implementing  a  National  Mission  on Interdisciplinary  Cyber  Physical  Systems  (NM-ICPS)  to  create  a  strong  foundation  and  a  seamless ecosystem  for  CPS  technologies  by  coordinating  and  integrating  nationwide  efforts  encompassing knowledge  generation,  human  resource  development,  research,  technology  and  product  development, innovation  and  commercialization.   Innovation  Hubs  envisaged  under  NM-ICPS  connect  educational institutes,  industry,  Central  Ministries  and  State  governments  in  developing  solutions  to  meet  the demands  of  the  market.  The  Ministry  of  Human  Resource  Development  (MHRD)  in  partnership  with DST  and  Science  and  Engineering  Research  Board  (SERB)  is  implementing  a  scheme  'IMPacting Research INnovation and Technology (IMPRINT)' to address major engineering challenges relevant to India through an inclusive and sustainable mode of translational research steered by the top engineering institutions  in  the  country.  The  Uchhatar  Avishkar  Yojana  (UAY)  is  another  partnership  programme between  MHRD  and  several  other  ministries  including  DST/SERB  with  a  view  to  link  educational institutes and industry and promote innovation that directly impacts the need of the industries.

National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), an umbrella programme of  DST,  was  launched  with  an  aim  to  nurture  Start-Ups  through  scouting,  supporting  and  scaling  of innovations. Several initiatives including establishing Technology  Business Incubators have been undertaken  under  NIDHI,  which  operates  through  key  stakeholders  namely,  central  government ministries  and  departments,  state  governments,  academic  and  R  &  D  institutions,  mentors,  financial institutions, angel investors, venture capitalists and private sectors.

Industry Relevant R&D (IRRD) scheme of SERB was launched with the objective to utilize the expertise available in academic institutions and national laboratories to solve industry specific problems for the larger benefit of society. IRRD supports joint proposals by academic and industry partner. SERBTETRA  (Technology  Translation  Award)  is  a  new  scheme  for  catalizing  technology  translation  in academic setting. With a seed capital, flexible working spaces and interaction between mentor and startup entrepreneurs, the SERB-TETRA  would  expand  the  scope by providing numerous networking opportunities with an aim to connect the outcome of R&D projects to an audience of investors, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and private companies for reaching out to the market. The Prime Minister's Fellowship for Doctoral Research of SERB is aimed to promote industry-relevant research at Ph.D. level. The scholars are provided with double scholarship, 50% of which is provided by government (SERB) and balance 50% by a sponsoring industry for a period of four years.

SATHI-Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute is a recently launched scheme of DST to strengthen and develop infrastructure for science and technology in universities and other institutes of higher  education.  SATHI  has  been  designed  to  provide  high-end  analytical  testing  and  prototyping services to industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia.

Several  joint  programmes  with  industry  such  as  DST-Intel  on  river  water  and  air  quality monitoring,  DST-Thermax  Limited,  Pune  on  methanol  production  from  Indian  coal  were  launched  to promote the academia industry linkages. Under the  DST-Intel collaborative  research  programme, four consortia have been supported that aimed to develop tools and constituent blocks that will enable end to end water and air quality monitoring systems on smart, networked, low cost, low power sensor nodes with large scale cloud based data analysis.

Several  institutional  platforms  such  as  Technology  Development  Board  (TDB),  Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)  facilitate technology translation at various levels in close coordination with educational institutions and industry.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has dynamic network of 38 constituent laboratories pursuing  R&D  activities  in  key  areas  which  are  important  to  industry  and  provides  significant technological interventions with industry in many areas with regard to societal efforts. CSIR entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with educational institutions and Indian industrial firms to focus on developing joint technology development projects & technology transfer and also empaneled external agencies for promoting and marketing CSIR knowledgebase.

(c) The Ministry of Science and Technology has several women centric programmes for promoting the  contribution  of  women scientists in  the field  of  Science  and  Technology. DST  has  started  a scheme 'Knowledge  Involvement  Research  Advancement  through  Nurturing  (KIRAN)'  in  2014-15  to  ensure participation  of  women  in  the  field  of  Science  and  Technology  (S&T)  through  gender  enabling programmes.  One  of  the  programmes,  'Women  Scientist  Scheme'  provides  career  opportunities  to unemployed women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in career. There are three major components of Women Scientists Scheme namely, i) Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A) for  conducting  research  in  Basic  &  Applied  Sciences,  ii)  Women  Scientists  Scheme-B  (WOS-B)  for research projects that entail S&T interventions for Societal Benefit and iii) Women Scientists Scheme-C (WOS-C)  that  enables  them  to  become  Intellectual  Property  Rights  (IPR)  professional.    In  2016-17, 'mobility' component has been introduced under KIRAN to address relocation issue of working Women Scientists. In 2017-18, DST launched a programme 'Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM' (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) to provide opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists to  undertake  International collaborative  research  in  premier  institutions  in USA for duration of 3-6 months. Further, Women Scientists & Technologists are also encouraged to avail capacity  building  programmes  related  with  R&D,  entrepreneurship,  managerial  skills  and  leadership under  'National  Program  for  Training  of  Women  Scientists  &  Technologists  working  in  Government Sector' of DST. Under KIRAN, institutional support is also provided through 'Consolidation of University Research  through  Innovation  and  Excellence  in  Women  Universities  (CURIE)'  Programme.  SERB Women Excellence Award is a one-time award given to women scientists below 40 years of age who have received  recognition  from  any  one  of  the  national  academies  such  as  Young  Scientist  Medal,  Young Associate  etc.  DBT  is  also  implementing  'Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Re-orientation Programme  (BioCARe)'  to  enhance  the  participation  of  Women  Scientists  in  Biotechnology  research. National Women  Bioscientist  Award  is  an initiative of  DBT  to  recognize outstanding research contributions of women scientists in basic and applied research areas of Biosciences and Biotechnology. During 2019-20, DST with an aim to increase the number of women in STEM education has started a new scheme 'Vigyan Jyoti' for girl students of Class 9 to 12.

(d) The  Ministry  encourages  and  empower  Young  Scientists  through  several  enabling  mechanisms like  fellowships,  start-up  grant,  mobility  grant,  awards  etc.  The  Scheme  for  Young  Scientists  and Technologists (SYST) of DST is one of the schemes to encourage scientists and technologists to take up societal challenges and provide S&T driven solutions to it. A total of 152 projects have been awarded to potential young scientists to address various facets of societal issues.

Some of the noteworthy achievements under SYST include: Dyes, fixtures and manually operated equipment for manufacturing bamboo  stripes, were developed for bamboo  artisans. Developed equipments were transferred to Tool Room and Training Centre (TRTC), Guhawati, Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprise for training 2000 artisans/year.

Region specific, economically effective, Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  package  was developed  for  the  management  of  red  spider  for  the  benefit  of  tea  farmers.    Two  workshops  were organized in Assam and Tripura and were attended by 324 farmers.

An eco-friendly package of practice for cultivation of Phalaenopsis orchid has been standardized for cultivation in tropical hill. This crop due to low volume and high value has grat potential to double the famer's income. Training was imparted to 950 farmers and 20 children with special ability.

Eco-friendly  biopesticide  for  Poplar  defoliator  called  'Rakshak'  was  developed  demonstrating 70% efficacy. Training was imparted to 150 farmers from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

One of the in vivo and in vitro studies validated that Sex Selection Drugs (SSDs) contains heavy metals  and  phytoestrogens  that  affect  the  reproductive  capacity  and  tissue  formation  of  fetus.  A communication package on an important social aspect of adverse effects of SSDs on growing fetus was developed and disseminated at 7 railway stations in North India.

(e) Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme was conceptualized, designed,  developed  and  implemented  by  DST  to  identify,  sustain  and  strengthen  human  capacity  for R&D base of the country. There are various components of the scheme addressing different levels from school to postdoctoral level. Some of the achievements under various components of the Programme are given below:

INSPIRE  Awards  MANAK  (Million  Minds  Augmenting  National  Aspiration  and  Knowledge) scheme, starting from 2017-18 is a unique initiative for attracting school students at an early age to study science and pursue research career apart from promoting research and fostering a culture of innovation among them. The scheme invites innovative,  creative  and  useful ideas  from  school  children  in  the  age group of 10-15 years which are submitted on-line in 22 different languages.   Out of these, up-to one lakh ideas are eligible for INSPIRE Award of Rs. 10,000/-each, part of which is used for building prototype / models. With these models / projects, the selected students participate in District, State and National Level Exhibitions.    The  participants  of  National  Level  Exhibition  are  provided  mentorship  at  premier educational  and  technical  institutions  of  the  country.  Top  sixty  projects  are  rewarded  as  National Winners. A total of 1,23,094 INSPIRE Awards have been sanctioned in the last three financial years.

INSPIRE  Internship  arranges  Science  Camps  for  about  50,000  youths  per  annum  to  provide opportunities  for  Class  XI  science  students  who  are  within  top  1%  of  Class  X  board  examinations  to interact  with  leading  researchers  and  scientists  including  Nobel  Laureates  for  experiencing  the  joy  of innovations. So far about 4 lakh students in the age group of 16-17 years across the country have availed of this opportunity.

Scholarship  for  Higher  Education  (SHE)  aims  to  empower  performing  students  to  undertake higher education in science intensive programmes by providing scholarships and mentoring. The scheme offers 12,000 scholarships every year @ Rs 0.80 lakh per year for undertaking Bachelor and Masters level education  in  natural  and  basic  sciences  for  performing  students  in  the  age  group  17-22  years.  So  far 89,276 students have availed SHE Scholarship.

INSPIRE Fellowship (age group of 22-27 years) offers 1000 INSPIRE Fellowships every year, for carrying  out  doctoral  degree  in  both  basic  and  applied  sciences  including  engineering,  agriculture, veterinary and medicine. So far about 8500 students have been offered INSPIRE fellowships to pursue Ph.D. in S & T.

INSPIRE Faculty  Fellowship  Scheme  offers  opportunity  every  year  for  up-to  100  postdoctoral scientists  in  the  age  group  of  27-32  years  in  both  basic  and  applied  sciences  including  engineering, agriculture,  veterinary  and  medicine  for  carrying  out  5  years  of  quality  research  at  any  recognized university/  academic  institutions/  laboratory  in  the  country.  The  scheme  prepares  a  pool  of  quality scientists  for  potential  employment in R&D  and academic sector. So far  1,244 Young researchers have been offered faculty fellowship to pursue a career in R&D.

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