India Lacks Basic Science Funding for Innovation

India's research funding model lacks sufficient emphasis on basic science, according to a report. The country's private sector contributes about 40% of research and development spending, significantly lower than the 75% in the United States and China.

The report notes that Indian scientists are increasingly pressured to focus on product development and commercialization, rather than foundational research. This shift risks undermining long-term innovation, as many breakthroughs require years of basic science exploration.

A diagnostic platform, for example, may take years of research into disease biology, pathogen behavior, and molecular mechanisms before a product becomes viable. The report argues that India must prioritize basic science funding to support such foundational work.

To address this, the report recommends creating a dedicated funding window for investigator-driven, curiosity-led research. This funding should not require projects to promise patents or products. It also suggests dividing research into discovery, translation, and deployment phases with distinct timelines and evaluation criteria.

Long-duration funding with less administrative oversight and a national shared research infrastructure are also recommended. These include access to genomics, proteomics, AI platforms, and other advanced tools across institutions.

The report emphasizes the need to change how research is evaluated, moving away from metrics like publication counts and patents toward measures of originality, reproducibility, and scientific impact. China's success in growing its R&D investment and becoming a global tech leader is cited as an example of the benefits of such an approach.