National Research Foundation

Subject : Polity

Section : National Body

Concept :

National Research Foundation (NRF)

NRF is a proposed entity that will replace the Science and Engineering Research Board of India (SERB) and catalyse and channel interdisciplinary research for accelerating India’s ambitious development agenda, through impactful knowledge creation and translation.
The NRF’s Goals:
Promote interdisciplinary research that will address India’s most pressing development challenges.
Minimize duplication of research efforts.
Promote the translation of research into policy and practice.

Features of NRF:

The NRF will be presided by the Prime Minister and consist of 10 major directorates, focusing on different domains of science, arts, humanities, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The NRF will have an 18-member board with eminent Indian and international scientists, senior government functionaries and industry leaders.
The NRF will be registered as a society and have an independent secretariat.

Funding of the NRF:

The NRF will operate with a budget of ₹50,000 crore for five years, with 28% (₹14,000 crore) funded by the government and 72% (₹36,000 crore) from the private sector.
The government’s share is proposed to increase to ₹20,000 crore per year, with ₹4,000 crore sourced from the existing Science and Engineering Research Board’s budget.

Concerns over funding:

The allocated funding for the NRF, less than 2% of the nation’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD), is considered inadequate compared to other major economies like the U.S. and China.
India’s GERD was significantly lower than the U.S. and China in 2017-18, highlighting the need for increased investment in research and development.

Facilitating the “ease of doing science”:

The NRF needs to minimise the time between grant application and fund disbursal, ensuring a maximum turnaround time of six months.
Digital processing of paperwork and financial transactions should be implemented to eliminate the need for physical copies and streamline administrative processes.
The NRF should have independent spending guidelines to provide flexibility while maintaining accountability, separate from the General Financial Rules and the government e-Marketplace (GeM).
Timely release of funds should be ensured, and mechanisms should be established to facilitate and implement this effectively.

Private sector participation and funding:

While the involvement of the private industry in the NRF is welcome, the mechanisms for raising ₹36,000 crore from the industry require more detailed planning and the establishment of secure mechanisms, such as escrow accounts.

Learning from international models:

The NRF draws inspiration from international science agencies like the U.S. National Science Foundation and science agencies in Germany, the U.K., Switzerland, Norway, South Korea, and Singapore.
The success of the NRF will depend on the government’s ability to set and implement transparent rules that differ from existing practices, with a focus on critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.