India Budget – new plans in R&D infrastructure and a lot more

The recently announced federal budget by the newly elected Government of India has unveiled a slew of initiatives to boost growth of India’s scientific capabilities. The focus is particularly on improvement of agricultural productivity, biotech clusters, capacity creation in health and education, clean energy initiatives and development of water resources and river conservation. Most of these plans are well aligned with the current thinking on UK-India strategic research partnership which we hope to take forward through the Newton Fund.

The budget talks about establishing quality institutions, including at least five institutions on areas such as nanotechnology, materials science and bio-medical devices, to be developed as ‘technical research centers’ to make them more effective in the innovation space through public private partnerships. The emphasis on the development of biotech clusters in Bangalore and Faridabad indicates the Government’s intention to stimulate biotechnology research through investments and partnerships. I am sure lot of lessons could be learnt from UK’s positive experience in establishing such clusters. This effort will include global partnerships in accessing model-organism resources for disease biology, stem cell biology and for high-end electron microscopy.

The agri-biotech cluster in north India (Mohali) is proposed to be scaled up to include plant-genetic and phenotype platforms. A joint UK-India research call as supported by the BBSRC, UK and Indian Department of Biotechnology on similar areas in fact was launched last year on crop genomics and received a strong quality response. Secondary agriculture will be a major thrust in Mohali through collaborations in the public and private sector. In addition, two new clusters, in two other locations (Pune and Kolkata) will be established.

Global partnerships will be developed to transform the Delhi component of the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology into a world-leader in life sciences and biotechnology. I do indeed have fond memories of the institute where we organised a very successful joint workshop on bioenergy and biofuels which eventually led to a joint research call.

With the government showing intent of sustaining a 4% growth rate in agriculture, a second green revolution is now proposed. Focus is on technology-driven measures to improve agriculture productivity. Again greater emphasis is proposed on making investments to modernise existing infrastructure as well as setting up new facilities. I was pleased to note that critical challenges like deteriorating soil health (mobile soil testing labs) and impact of climate change (£10 m for a climate adaptation fund) have been considered.

The higher budgetary funds in health sector are aimed at building infrastructure for medical education including establishment of 15 rural health research centers to take up research on local health issues concerning the rural population. There is also a lot of emphasis on quality healthcare with plans to set up new drug testing laboratories and strengthening the existing state laboratories. The bilateral MoU on health co-operation signed last year does place the UK as the perfect partner for India on its journey towards better healthcare.

A high priority has been given to develop the renewable energy sector, including a major boost to solar power with an allocation of £100m for development of ultra large solar power plants and solar parks. Solar PV is an important part of the UK’s energy mix. The Solar PV Strategy Roadmap ‘Roadmap to a Brighter Future’ published last year was a useful read that established the principles for solar PV deployment in the UK. And of course it is an area of cooperation between UK and India.

The research component of the budget certainly has set in action several programmes. Response of Professor Vijay Raghavan, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Acting Secretary, Department of Science and Technology on this budget was “We have been getting all the right signals — through inter-ministerial cooperation, big missions in sanitation, clean water, health, energy and agriculture will not fall short of funds — we’re positive and rearing to go.” We are as well and will definitely follow the progress with lots of interest, ensuring the UK – India relationship in research goes from strength to strength.