Question : EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

(a) whether the Public Sector Enterprises are expending money on `Research and Development (R &D) Projects`;

(b) if so, the names of such Public Sector Enterprises and the amount being spent by them in this regard;

(c) whether companies of the private sector are also working on `Research and Development` projects;

(d) if so, the details of such companies;

(e) the percentage of amount spent by them for this purpose;

(f) whether the Government have issued any orders to the private companies for continuing to spend a fixed amount on `Research and Development` in order to compete with the world; and

(g) if so, the details alongwith the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI BALASAHEB VIKHE PATIL)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): As per the Public Enterprises Survey 2001-02, placed in Parliament on 3.3.2003, a sum of Rs.832.73 crore was spent by Central Public Sector Enterprises on Research and Development activities, details of which are available in Statement 15 Volume-I of Public Enterprises Survey.

(c): Yes, Sir.

(d): As per the R&D Statistics (May 2002) published by the Department of Science and Technology, the expenditure on R&D by 968 private sector companies during the year 1998-99 has been Rs. 1872.66 crore.

(e): The 968 private sector companies have spent 0.70% of their sales turnover on R&D in 1998-99.

(f)&(g): In order to encourage and augment industrial investment in R&D, Government have introduced various fiscal incentives and other support measures from time to time for private sector also.