Lok Sabha Question No. 147 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Anusandhan National Research Foundation
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Locket Chatterjee, Annasaheb Shankar Jolle

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 147 ANSWERED ON 13/12/2023

## ANUSANDHAN NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION

*147. MS. LOCKET CHARTTERJEE: SHRI ANNASAHEB SHANKAR JOLLE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) the aims and objectives of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) passed by Parliament recently;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to ensure more equitable funding  of scientific  research  and  bringing  in  greater  private participation;
- (c) whether the Government is planning to create a Public Private Partnership  (PPP)  entity  to  invest  in  Research  and  Development (R&D) in science and technology sector; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğालय क े  राÏयमंğी (èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ. िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

(a) to (d) :  A statement is laid in the table of the house.

## STATEMENT OF REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.147 FOR REPLY IN LOK SABHA ON 13.12.2023

- (a) The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) passed by Parliament  recently  is  aimed  to  provide  high  level  strategic  direction  for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences and scientific and technological interfaces of humanities and social sciences and  also  to  promote,  monitor  and  provide  support  as  required  for  such research. The aims and objectives of ANRF include: Seeding, growing and facilitating research at academic and research institutions; funding competitive peer-reviewed grant proposals; assisting in setting up research infrastructure and environment; supporting translation of research undertaken into capital intensive technologies; evolving nationally coordinated programmes; coordinating across the Central Government, State Governments,  public  authorities,  industries,  and  research  institutions,  to document  and  analyse  the  expenditure  on  scientific  research  and  their outcomes; evolving participation in international collaborative projects and fostering exchange of scientific information etc.
- (b) Government has taken several steps for promotion of scientific research including equitable funding to research at academic and research institutions, particularly at universities and colleges where research capacity is at a nascent stage, through programmes  such  as  research and development (R&D) projects, fellowships etc. Ongoing schemes  like State University Research Excellence (SURE) ensure greater participation of state universities and colleges to make the research enterprise more equitable. ANRF including its governing structure has been modelled to have greater private  participation  and  it  ensures  greater  opportunities  to  public  and private  sector  enterprises  and  organisations  in  R&D.  Ongoing  industry focused  schemes  like  Fund  for  Industrial  Research  Engagement  (FIRE) provide vibrant platforms for several industries to take up industry relevant research for better impact and outcome.
- (c) & (d) Government through ANRF has emphasized investments in R&D in science and technology sector through PPP models. ANRF would help create conducive  environment  for  the  public  sector  enterprises  as  well  as  the private sector entities to invest in the activities of the Foundation. ANRF will set up frameworks to identify scientific and practical solutions for societal, developmental, financial and techno-economic challenges including technology  gaps  and  fund  R&D  through  various  mechanisms  including creation of Special Purpose Funds to cater any specific project or research. These entities would enhance investment in R&D through PPP.

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