National Research Development Corporation to align growth strategy with Make in India and other opportunities offered by the Government.
The National Research Development Corporation(NRDC) is planning to align its growth strategy with certain key opportunities offered by the Government's flagship programmes, viz. Make in India, Digital India and Swachh Bharat. The 'Make in India' programme includes creation of a technology acquisition and development fund, wherein NRDC proposes to scout for technologies to be acquired, demonstrate high risk technologies in PPP mode and extend angel funding for promising technologies. The 'Digital India' programme includes making available all Databases and Information electronically. Accordingly, NRDC has proposed to develop an Indian Technology Data Bank. Under the 'Swachh Bharat' programme, NRDC proposes adoption of a Gram Panchayat and promote innovative technologies therein for socio-economic transformation.
NRDC has been facing acute shortage of funds to promote transfer, commercialization and utilization of domestic R&D. NRDC undertakes commercial as well as promotional activities. Commercial activities primarily include undertaking consultancy projects and licensing of technologies for which it receives royalty/lump-sum premia from licensees and makes payment to the inventors and institutions who assign the technologies to NRDC for commercialization. NRDC's income from its commercial activities during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 have been Rs. 1073.30 lakh, Rs. 709.86 lakh and Rs. 766.20 lakh, respectively incurring a loss of Rs. 84.54 lakh, Rs. 247.59 lakh and Rs. 170.42 lakh during the same period.
Promotional activities primarily include, patent assistance, IPR awareness, technology value addition, techno-commercial support, technology commercialization, giving away innovation awards and promotion of innovations in Rural and North East regions, for which NRDC receives grants from the Government. Government has approved a 12th five year plan outlay of Rs. 37 crore for NRDC, against which only Rs. 13.68 crore has been provided during 2012-2015 and Rs. 1.00 crore in the current F.Y. 2015-16. The Ministry proposes to seek additional support for NRDC at the revised estimates stage and subject to necessary approvals and fund availability position, NRDC will be able to carry out the promotional activities. Simultaneously, NRDC is also being advised to raise its income from the commercial activities to promote domestic R&D growth.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Y.S.Chowdary in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Source: PIB
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