Lok Sabha Question No. 1936 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Technology Development Board
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Nisith Pramanik, Bhola Singh, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Jayanta Kumar Roy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1936 To BE ANSWERED ON 12/02/2021

Technology Development Board

## 1936. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

DR: JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE state:

AND be pleased to

- (a) the objectives and role of Technology Development Board (TDB) and the nature of projectsl institutionslactivities  being funded by the Board including the modes of
- (b) whether the financial assistance provided by Technology Development Board (TDB) to the industrial sector is significantly very minimal;
- (c) if the details thereof and the reasons therefor   including the financial assistance provided by TDB to various sectors during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (d) whether the Board proposes to increase the financial assistance so as to encouragel promote research and development of indigenous technology and if S0, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether Government has reviewed the functioning the details thereof; and
- other steps being taken by the government for technology commercialization in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): As per Section 6 of Technology Development Board Act; 1995, the objectives of TDB are to:
- 1, Provide equity capital,  subject to such conditions as may be determined regulations; or any other financial assistance to industrial concerns and other agencies by

attempting commercial   application of indigenous   technology or adapting imported technology for wider domestic applications;

2. Provide financial assistance to such research and development institutions engaged in developing indigenous technology or adaptation of imported technology for commercial application, as may be recognized by the Central Government;
2. Perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government:

Accordingly, since inception TDB is providing financial assistance in the form of equity, Ioan or grant to industrial concers and other agencies attempting commercial application of indigenous technology or adapting imported technology for wider domestic applications: TDB has provided funds to companies, start-ups and Technology Business Incubators for this purpose. Though most of the projects have been funded directly, some projects have also been funded through Venture Capital funds.

- (b) to (d): No Sir: Financial assistance has been provided to all projects that were found confirming to TDB objectives and qualified in evaluation: No project suffered due to non-financing delayed financing by TDB:

The Sector-wise financial assistance provided TDB during last 3 years and the current year is given at Annexure [. by

- (e): Yes Sir, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has reviewed the functioning of TDB and report was released during September, 2020.The details are given in Annexure II:

The Technology Development Board is chaired by Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST) and there are Secretaries of Department of Expenditure, Department of Promotion of Industrial and Internal Trade, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Department of Defence Research and Development Organization Department of Rural Development as Ex-officio members on the Board   including four nominated private members by the Central Government: The functioning of Technology Development Board is constantly under close observation of the Government by virtue of its composition.

The sub Committees are also constituted by Board to monitor the activities of TDB and give recommendations for effective functioning: Cell has been created in DST which regularly monitors the activities of TDB:

- (f): The other steps being taken by the Government for technology commercialization in the country are:

## MNSTRY QF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

- 1, Department of Science and Technology has been supporting setting up of Technology Business Incubators (TBI) in academic setups: These TBIs help

entrepreneurs to commercialize products and take them to markets through formation of startups ventures: DST has been supporting NIDHI PRAYAS (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups) at POC (Proof of Concept) level to support innovators in converting their ideas to prototypes: Through NIDHI Seed Fund, Startups are provided early stage seed funds to take products to markets and commercialize technologies: Through DST's NIDHI Accelerator program, potential startups are provided intense mentoring for scaling up of the business and market access of the startups:

2. Technical Research Centres (TRC's) in Autonomous Institutes under Department Of Science and Technology Five Technical Research Centres (TRCs) were established with a mission to provide techno-legal-commercial and financial support to scientists, entrepreneurs, and business fraternity to achieve translation of research into products and processes for greater economic and societal benefits in 5 DST institutions namely, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram; International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru; Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS) Kolkata; and S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS); Kolkata during FY 2015-16.
3. Indo-U.S: Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF):The governments of the United States of America (through the Department of State) and India (through the Department of Science & Technology) have established the United States-India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF) for the promotion of joint activities that would lead to innovation and entrepreneurship through the application of science and technology: The aim of the Fund is to support and foster joint applied R&D to generate public good through the commercialization of technology developed through sustained partnerships between U.S. and Indian researchers and entrepreneurs: The U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund activities are implemented and administered through the bi-national IUSSTF.
4. Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA): GITA is a unique organization that works under an Innovative mechanism between Government of India and Indian industry for attracting Indian industry's investment in technology by mapping technology gaps, evaluating technology offers across the globe on appropriateness from techno-economic perspective for India, connecting technology developers, providers, commercializers, funding the most crucial phase of technology development that connects the R&D and deployment of technology solutions in market:
5. Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC): IGSTC supports industrially relevant projects through its 2+2 programme: The regular duration of a 2+2 project is 36 months:  Ongoing 2+2 projects from Call 2014 onwards with industrially relevant outcomes were considered with an extended funding period a Phase 2 (extension phase) of the project up to two years. Projects having the potential to be developed to a significant higher TRL were supported, that chances are high that the industrial partner will bring the prototype finally into the market

6. Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical System (NM-ICPS) aims for Technology Development, translational research and commercialization in CPS and associated technologies: The Mission aims to create a strong foundation and a seamless ecosystem for various technologies by coordinating and integrating nationwide efforts encompassing knowledge generation, human resource development, research, technology and product development, innovation and commercialization. As part of the Mission, 25 number of Technology Innovations Hubs (TIH's) have been established across the country: TIH's are structured to translate basic R&D into deployable toolsltechnologies: These Hubs are encouraged to have collaboration with industry to rollout products addressed industrial specific problems and will act as a platform for academic, industry and government to work together:

## Department of\_Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR)

- 1\_ DSIR operates a programme called Promoting Innovations in Individuals, Start-ups and MSMEs (PRISM) under Umbrella Scheme : Industrial Research and Development (IRD) Scheme: The programme is aimed at extending financial support to independent innovators for converting their innovative ideas into marketablelcommercializable products. The support is extended in two phasesIn an amount of INR 20.00 lakh is given as grants-in-aid support, while in phase the support of INR 50.00 Iakh for market seeding of the productltechnology:
2. Public sector undertaking under DSIR i.e. Central Electronics Limited (CEL) works on commercialization of in-house developed and also the technologies developed by national R&D laboratories of the country: CEL is currently working on products related to Renewable energy, Railways Signalling, Ceramic radome for Missile Radar; Border Surveillance, Drishti  Transmissometer for commercialization. The company is making sincere efforts for commercialization of products through activities such as facility establishment, product customization as per end user requirement, product demonstrations and tender participation:
- 3\_ The main objective of another Public sector undertaking under DSIR i.e. National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) is to develop, promote and transfer technologies emanating from organizations universities to industries for commercial exploitation by Industry Start-ups MSME etc. The Corporation provides comprehensive technology transfer services and acts as a catalyst for transforming innovative research into marketable industrial products. The Corporation's endeavour has resulted in transfer of  technologies to about 5000   entrepreneurs in India and abroad and has filed more than 1800 patents.
4. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under DSIR has adopted several measures for the commercialization of technologies: CSIR is  implementing translational projects and mission mode projects aiming at the development and commercialization of technologies with industry- CSIR is also working very closely with the Ministry of MSME and other industry partners for the commercialization of technologies developed by CSIR: Also, industry partners are roped in the projects from the very beginning to seek their advice in technologylproduct development; and once

developed, they do commercialization of technologieslproducts. Further, to effectively connect with its stakeholders and market the research & technology output as well as services, CSIR has in place guidelines for technology transfer and utilization of knowledgebase. It also enables the CSIR system to connect well with  industry for providing innovative technological solutions besides enabling interactions with external agenciesl organizations for the commercialization of technologies developed by CSIR:

## Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs: BIRAC is a industry-academia interface and implements its mandate through a wide range of impact initiatives, be it providing access to risk capital through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP management and handholding schemes that help bring innovation excellence to the biotech firms and make them globally competitive:

MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES has set up Technology Research Board (TRB) to promote indigenous development of technologies in earth sciences. With the financial support of TRB, a solar desalination plant has been set up in Kanyakumari with a capacity of producing 10000 litre of potable water per day by IIT, Madras.

MNSTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (MNRE) supports a scheme (Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme" through various research institutions and industry to enable indigenous technology development and manufacture for wide spread applications of new and renewable energy in efficient and cost effective manner across the country: The Ministry encourages research and technology development proposals in collaboration with industry for commercialization and provides upto 50% of the total project cost to Industry, Start-ups, Private Institutes, Entrepreneurs and Manufacturing units:

MNSTRY QE\_EDUCATION: The students and faculty of IIITs are encouraged to set up incubation centres to foster innovation, research and commercialization of technology so developed: The patents filed by the students are also taken into account towards interal assessments.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTh RESEARCH: The Division of Innovation and Translation Research (ITR) has been set up in Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) to look after technology commercialization: A number of technologies of public health relevance have been transferred through in-house efforts by adopting transparent process to invite privatel public sector companies and selecting companies through evaluation by expert committee as per company selection criteria of Council:

DEPARTMENT QE ATOMC ENERGY (DAE) has developed many technologies suitable for commercialisation in various fields including Healthcare, food security & agriculture,

water & waste management, industrial applications and material science. The technologies suitable for commercialisation are transferred to Private Entrepreneurs though Technology Transfer & Collaboration Division (Tt&CD), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent unit of DAE:

DEPARTMENT OF SPACE has implemented a structured mechanism for transferring technologies developed by ISRO Centres/Units to the Indian industry: New Space India Ltd; a public Sector undertaking under the administrative control of DoS is responsible for   transferring ISRO developed technologies: Indian industries commercialize the products and services developed out of these transferred technologies:

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE RESEARCH AND\_DEVELOPMENI: The steps taken by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the technology commercialization are as follows:

- 1\_ The benefits of DRDO's   technological progress are passed on to Industries through Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreements for both military products and civilian offs products. The Category 'A' technologies pertains to the technologies for Military application, MHA and Government Departments. While the Category spin
2. To facilitate Tot Cat A (Military  Technologies) and Cat B (Commercial use technologies), a user friendly portal is also launched for more transparency and clarity for the industry entrepreneurs: for
- technologies pertain to the technologies for commercial application.
3. DRDO has evolved ToT policy and Procedure for transfer of DRDO technologies to industries. According to which, 'Nil' Tot fee is charged from the industry partners (Development cum Production Partner (DP)) and zero royalty for supply to Indian Armed Forces and Govt Deptt: Only 5 % ToT fee is charged
- from non DcPPIDP industries.
4. To unearth hidden potential of off technologies and bring in more transparency, DRDO has entered into MOUs with four leading industry chambers namely Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM); Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) for technology assessment and commercialization of dual use, non-security sensitive technologies s0 that fruits of our technological progress reach the common man: spin

Industries have gained confidence in DRDO technologies and more than 1000 ToT till now.

agreements have been signed with industries

3

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To ,

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## F.No.1/48/1/2018-Cab (Vol-II)

New Delhi, Dated  the October; 2020

## OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Rationalization Autonomous BodiesReview undertaken by Department of Expenditure- forwarding forimplementation thereof-reg:

am directed to enclose herewith a copy of the D.O. letter No. 7(105JEMCCell2020 dated 30.09.2020 from the Secretary (Expenditure) along with the individual report in respect of your Ministry/Department on the subject for your reference:

- 2\_ It is requested that action may be taken to implement the recommendations of the Department of Expenditure as indicated in the report in a time bound manner and a compliance report may be sent to the Cabinet Secretariat
- Secretary, Department of Science and Technology
- 3) Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences
- 2) Secretary, Department of BioTechnology
- 4) Secretary. Ministry of Environment; Forest and Climate Change
- 6) Secretary, Ministry of Tourism
- 5) Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development
- 7) Secretary, Department of Sports

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(Ashutosh Jindal) Joint Secretary (Cabinet) Tel: 23012697

## to; Copy

Secretary  (Expenditure) his DO letter No. 7(105JEMC-Cell/2ozo dated 30.09.2020 . It is requested that the work of review for remaining Ministries/Departments may be completed expeditiously:

13 oF

## 29\_ Technology Development Board (TDB)

Technology Development Board (TDBJis a statutory body established by Government of India  under Technology Development Board Act, 1995. It is engaged in promotion, development and commercialization of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for much wider application.

The TDB   provides  financial assistance to Indian   industrial concerns and other agencies, attempting development and commercial application of indigenous technology, or adapting imported technology to wider domestic applications

## Objectives:

- promote new ideas from small enterprises even at the risk of failures;
- (I) motivate industries and R&D institutions for product innovation;
- (I) encourage production of competitive consumer products;
- (IV) develop socially relevant and profitable technologies;
- (Vi) Invest in core Technological Strengths to Enable India Industry to Stand-up to the competitive Pressure and Become a global Player:
- (V) identify and act in areas requiring strategic interventions;

## Financing:

Technology Development Board (TDBJis financed primarily through Gross Budgetary Support in the form of Grants-in-aid by Department of Science & Technologv: However, the details have not been provided by DST,

## Analysis & Recommendations;

It order to become it is very important to promote development and commercialization of indigenous technology and adaption of imported technology at very fast   pace and hence this AB may be continued as a standalone Autonomous Body

## 30. Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)

Science and Engineering Research Board is a statutory body, was established by an Act of the Parliament of India in 2009 (SERB ACT, 2008). The Board was set up for promoting basic research in science and engineering and to provide financial assistance to scientists, academic institutions, R&D laboratories, industrial concerns and other agencies for such research:

## Objectives:

- Serve as a premier agency for planning, promoting and funding of internationally competitive research in emerging areas
- (II) Assist in setting up infrastructure and environment for scientific pursuit.
- (I) Identify major   inter-disciplinary research areas, and individuals, groups or institutions and funding them for undertaking research.