The Sixth Consultative Meeting on “Ease of Doing Research & Development (R&D)” was held on 10th – 11th September 2025. The consultation brought together a distinguished gathering of Institutional leaders, Vice Chancellors, and scientific ministry/ departments for in-depth discussions on strengthening India’s research and development ecosystem.
Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in their keynote interventions, echoed the need for reimagining India’s research landscape where Ease of doing R&D is a priority. They observed that though India possesses deep scientific capabilities, however stronger institutional frameworks, streamlined regulations, and effective industry linkages are needed to ensure that laboratory innovations quickly reach society, industry, and markets.
The meeting was graced by Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, who emphasised that building a resilient R&D architecture is fundamental to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He underlined that India must focus not only on generating new knowledge but also on translating it into technologies, processes, and solutions that strengthen national self-reliance and global competitiveness. The Governor commended the initiative of NITI Aayog for bringing diverse stakeholders together on a platform that aligns science with societal progress.
Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, and Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Hon’ble Member, NITI Aayog, offered their perspectives on the future of Indian science & research. They called for renewed attention to translational pathways that connect research institutions with industry clusters, startups, and public-sector applications, ensuring that the value chain from knowledge creation to deployment is seamless and efficient.
Across technical sessions, participants such as Vice Chancellors and Directors of universities, national laboratories & institutes engaged in substantive deliberations on regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms, access to advanced knowledge resources, institutional processes, and models for applied and translational research. Contributions came from leading.
The meeting concluded with a resounding message that India’s scientific future will be defined not only by the ease of doing research but, more critically, by the ease of translating research into tangible outcomes. Embedding translation as a core principle in policy design, funding priorities, and institutional frameworks will ensure that India’s research enterprise moves beyond knowledge creation to deliver innovations that strengthen industry, advance national self-reliance, and improve the quality of life for its citizens.
