Lok Sabha Question No. 1988 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-09
Subject: Shortage of Scientists
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: PRATHAP SIMHA, SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1988 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9/03/2016

## SHORTAGE OF SCIENTISTS

1988.  SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

## KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the country is suffering from an acute shortage of scientists and technologists and if so, the details of shortfall;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to create more institutions and strengthen facilities for higher education and research in the country and the likely gap in future;
- (c) whether India has been able to create structure to nurture the innovation system at the grassroot level and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the National Innovation Foundation has been set up by the Department as an aided  lnstitute  to  support  grassroots  technological  innovations  and  outstanding  traditional knowledge, and if so, the details thereof; and

- (e) whether the National Research Development Corporation is engaged in licensing, transfer and commercialization of technologies and innovations to enterprises and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ A´ÉÆ |ÉÉètÉÉäÉÊMÉBÉEÉÒ àÉÆjÉÉÒ +ÉÉè® {Éßl´ÉÉÒ ÉÊ´ÉYÉÉxÉ àÉÆjÉÉÒ (bÉ. c­ÉÇ ´ÉvÉÇxÉ)

- (a) No  Madam.  There  is  no  shortage  of  scientists  and  technologists  in  various  research institutions/laboratories under the various departments of the Ministry of Science & Technology in the country.
- (b) Government has taken various steps to create more institutions and strengthen facilities for higher education and research in the country. It has established 5 Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research (IISERs) at Pune, Mohali, Kolkata, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram on the  lines  of  Indian  Institute  of  Science  (IISc),  Bangalore.  In  addition,  Government  has  also established 11 new autonomous S&T institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology to undertake research in new and emerging areas of S&T such as National Innovation Foundation (NIF),  Ahmedabad;  Institute  for  Advanced  Studies  in  Science  and  Technology  (IASST), Guwahati; National Centre of Molecular Materials (NCMM), Thiruvananthapuram, National Agri  Food  Biotechnology  Institute,  Mohali,  Translational  Health  Science  and  Technology Institute, Faridabad, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad etc apart from establishing Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), an autonomous body by an Act of Parliament to  promote  scientific  research  in  all  frontline  areas  of  science  and  engineering  to  academic

institutions, research laboratories and other R&D organisations. Government has also approved setting up of new IITs, IIITs and universities in various states of the country. To  strengthen  facilities  in  emerging  and  frontline  S&T  areas  in  academic  institutions, Government has launched various schemes such as Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST),  DBT-  BUILDER  (DBT-Boost  to  University  Inter-disciplinary  Departments  of  Life Sciences  for  Education  and  Research),  Promotion  of  University  Research  and  Scientific Excellence (PURSE) with special S&T packages to spread R&D base for North-Eastern Region, J&K and Bihar etc. (c)  &  (d):    Yes  Madam.  National  Innovation  Foundation  (NIF),  Ahmedabad  set  up  by  the Department  of  Science  &  Technology  in  2010  has  been  providing  support  to  grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge in the country. NIF, Ahmedabad has  built  a  database  of  more  than  2,25,000  technological  ideas,  innovations  and  traditional knowledge practices from over 585 districts of the country. It has recognised more than 775 grass root innovators and school students at the national level  apart from providing help in getting thousands  of  grass  root  technologies  validated/  value  added.  It  has  also  set  up  a  Fabrication Laboratory for product development apart from strengthening in-house research and development facilities for the initial validation of herbal technologies resulting in filing of over 745 patents on behalf of innovators. (e) Yes Madam. National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology is engaged in licensing, transfer and commercialisation of technologies and  innovations  to  enterprises  in  the  country.  Over  the  last  six  decades  of  its  existence,  the corporation has forged strong links with large number of R&D organisations/universities/industry associations and has filed 1700 patents and signed 4,874 license agreements for transfer of technologies in different sectors.

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