Question : R&D PROJECTS

(a) whether the Government has initiated R&D projects in the field of agriculture, industry and other vital areas of development for the country;

(b)if so, the details of such projects;

(c)whether the expenditure incurred on R&D projects is low in India in comparison to the advanced countries including China; and

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.354 FOR 15.12.2006 REGARDING `R&D PROJECTS`.

(a)&(b):Yes, Sir. Apart from the research projects being undertaken in-house by the Departments like Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Space, Defence, Railways, Telecommunication etc, the Government has been sponsoring research in the various fields including agriculture, industry and other vital S&T areas. The R&D projects sponsored by the various Government Departments are compiled in the publication entitled `Directory of Extramural R&D Projects 2004-2005`.According to this Directory, 2749 R&D projects costing Rs.570.50 crores were supported by various Government Departments in the country. Out of this, 222 R&D projects costing Rs.64.76 cores and 549 R&D projects costing Rs.153.54 crores were supported in agricultural sciences and engineering and technology respectively.

(c) & (d):Any comparison of expenditure on R&D projects vis-à-vis other countries is unrealistic in view of the availability of resources, infrastructure for R&D and wage differentials. International comparison in scientific research is generally made in terms of expenditure on R&D as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Presently, India`s expenditure on R&D as percentage of GDP is 0.80 as compared to 2.67 in USA, 1.88 in UK, 3.11 in Japan, 2.64 in Germany and 1.23 in China.

In order to boost the R&D activities in the country, the Government has enhanced the S&T Plan outlay of Scientific Departments/Agencies from Rs.12,022 crores in 9th Plan to Rs.25,243 crores in 10th Plan and plans to increase it further in 11th Plan. Further, various initiatives have been taken by the Government to encourage investment on R&D both in institutions and industry through several measures. These measures include higher allocation to scientific research, setting up of new institutions for science education and research, creation of centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas in academic and national institutes, strengthening infrastructure for R&D in universities, encouraging public-private R&D partnerships, grants for industrial R&D projects, income tax relief on R&D expenditure, weighted tax deduction for sponsored research, custom duty exemption on goods imported for use in Government funded R&D projects, tax holiday and national awards for outstanding R&D.