FICCI’s Bharat R&D Summit 2025 highlights the vital role of State S&T Councils, public-private partnerships, and grassroots innovation in realizing India’s ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’ vision.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) successfully concluded its two-day Bharat R&D Summit 2025 at the FICCI Federation House, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and academicians from across the country. Representatives from states including Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh participated in the discussions focused on strengthening India’s research, innovation, and technology ecosystem to accelerate the journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047.

The summit underscored the need for greater collaboration between industry, academia, and government to promote localized research, encourage public-private partnerships (PPP), and implement policy reforms that empower India’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) framework.

Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor (S&T), NITI Aayog, emphasized the pivotal role of State Science and Technology Councils in expanding the country’s STI ecosystem. Citing a recent NITI Aayog report, Dr. Singh revealed that 67% of India’s research output originates from just 450 centrally funded institutions, while most state-level institutions lag behind.

“India cannot become a Viksit Nation unless we have Viksit States,” he stated, calling for at least 0.5% of GSDP investment in R&D, structural reforms, and stronger linkages between academia and industry. Dr. Singh also highlighted India’s growing share in patent filings—56% from resident inventors—and its improved ranking to 38th in the Global Innovation Index, stressing the urgency of enhanced R&D funding to maintain this momentum.

Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaram, Chief Executive Officer, Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), elaborated on the foundation’s mission to position India as a global innovation hub. He outlined ANRF’s initiatives such as mission-mode programs on electric mobility and AI for science, grants for early-stage research, and a ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund for deep-tech development. “The Honourable Prime Minister has been clear that ANRF should act as a catalyst, not a crutch,” he said, highlighting digital initiatives like PAIR (Partnerships for Advancing Institutional Research) and Saral, an AI-enabled research democratization platform.

Dr. Nisha Mendiratta, Scientist ‘G’ and Head/Advisor, State S&T Programme (SSTP), Department of Science and Technology (DST), emphasized the need for grassroots R&D and inclusive participation of local institutions. “We must focus on region-specific research and encourage local innovation involving all stakeholders,” she noted, adding that State S&T Councils play a crucial role in promoting startups, innovation, and entrepreneurship through the PPP model.

Mr. Chau Dhyana Mungyak, Director-cum-Member Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology (APSCT), highlighted the power of industry-academia-government collaboration in achieving inclusive growth. He showcased APSCT initiatives such as the Science Technology and Innovation Resource Center, which enables advanced prototyping through the I-STEM portal, and the Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Resources, which has trained over 3,000 beneficiaries in areas like orchid and banana fiber research.

Prof. Arun Kumar Tyagi, Emeritus Scientist, Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), spoke about region-specific innovation needs in the Himalayan region, including landslide mitigation and seismic resilience. He announced UCOST’s plan to support 10,000 S&T champions working at the village level and invited participants to UCOST’s Science and Technology Summit in Dehradun, scheduled for November 27–29, 2025.

Mr. Anubhav Saxena, Chief R&D Officer, Pidilite Industries Limited, addressed the need for greater R&D investment in India’s chemical sector, which currently invests only 0.6% of revenue, compared to the global average of 1.1%. “We must expand participation beyond the top 50 institutes, which currently produce 80–90% of India’s research output,” he said, calling for structured internships and long-term academia-industry collaborations.

The summit also showcased ten exceptional technology innovations, shortlisted from a large pool of entries. The top three innovators were recognized for their groundbreaking contributions:

• Winner: Prof. Amit Kharkwal, Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh — for developing HNB9-Talaromyces albobiverticillius HNB9, a patented root-colonizing, phosphate-solubilizing fungus that enhances plant growth and yield.
• 1st Runner-Up: Dr. Sreepriya Vedantam, CSIR–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology — for indigenous technology to synthesize Hydrazine Hydrate from lab to commercial scale.
• 2nd Runner-Up: Dr. Anirbid Sircar, Pandit Deendayal Energy University — for innovation in Hydrogen Blending into Natural Gas Pipelines.

Concluding the event, FICCI reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem by bridging the gap between research, industry, and policy. The Bharat R&D Summit 2025 laid a strong foundation for regional development and sustainable growth through science, technology, and innovation, aligning with India’s long-term vision of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.