India’s Rs 1 Lakh Crore RDI Fund Aims to Bridge Deep-Tech Innovation Gap
· Business · Indian Express, Economic Times
India’s new Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) fund seeks to connect scientific research with long-term risk capital to build a globally competitive deep-tech sector. The fund targets priority areas like AI, quantum technology, space science, defence, robotics, and semiconductors, addressing gaps between knowledge creation and product commercialization. The US’s ‘Triple-Helix’ model—integrating government funding, academic research, and venture capital—is highlighted as a successful framework, particularly due to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which allowed universities to retain IP ownership of innovations. India’s RDI scheme aims to replicate this integration to foster innovation ecosystems. The article notes that limited private funding and a disconnect between research and industry remain key challenges in India’s R&D landscape.
Why it matters
The RDI fund could accelerate India’s technological self-reliance and global competitiveness in deep-tech sectors, potentially creating high-value jobs and industries. However, its success hinges on effective implementation and sustained private-sector engagement, which remains a hurdle in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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