Annual Report 2007-2008

National Science And Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS)

The National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division continued its efforts of generating and making available information on resources, both manpower as well as financial, devoted to scientific and technological (S&T) activities by conducting national surveys both through inhouse as well as sponsored studies.

S&T Resources Studies

The national survey for collection of data on resources devoted to research and development activities for the year 2005-06 is under progress. Data received is under scrutiny for its completeness and consistency. The report based on this survey titled ‘Research and Development Statistics 2005-2006’ sixteenth in the series, is being prepared. In this report, the scope and the coverage of the R&D activities has been enlarged substantially by including the expenditure of 200 multinational companies performing R&D activities in addition to (i) Higher Education Sector; (ii) Small Scale Industry (SSI) Sector; (iii) Industries other than those recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR); (iv) Central Sector; and (v) State sector.

In order to reduce the time lag in collection of data for the survey, e-questionnaires were designed for the first time. Each R&D organisation / establishment / industry was provided with a unique user ID and password for on-line filling of e-questionnaire. For this survey, both hard copy as well as electronic questionnaires were sent to overcome the teething problems faced by respondents while switching over from hard copy to electronic filling of questionnaires. The response to this effort was quite good and necessary improvements for the next survey are being carried out simultaneously.

The national level report based on the above mentioned survey ‘Research and Development Statistics 2005-06 will provide information and analysis in forms and variety like financial and human resources deployed by research institutions/laboratories of major scientific agencies, central ministries/departments, State Government institutions/ departments, research stations and in-house R&D units of public and private sector industries. Apart from this, the publication will also give information on patents, enrolment, out-turn, stock of S&T personnel, Plan/Non-Plan allocation for S&T, stock of scientists, engineers, technicians for selected countries, and R&D expenditure per capita and as percentage of gross national product etc.

The questionnaires for launching the next national survey for the year 2007-08 are being framed to elicit more information from central, state and industrial sectors. To further facilitate online submission of the e-questionnaires, problems faced by respondents are being taken care of. Apart from this, division is also planning to introduce some more parameters like import of capital goods for product improvement, introduction of new management practices etc. in the questionnaire to capture information on innovation indicators.

Information System/Database Activities

With a view to disseminate information on research and development (R&D) projects for the benefit of different interest groups, the National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) continued its effort to compile information on extramural R&D projects funded by different central agencies. Besides maintaining a computerised database on extramural R&D projects from 1985-86 onwards, the department publishes annually a Directory of Extramural Research and Development Projects funded during the year. The directory for the year 2005-06 is under preparation.

The directory for the year 2005-06, sixteenth in the series, contains information on 3569 new R&D projects approved by 19 central government departments/agencies. The total approved cost of these projects was Rs.1163.80 crores. Projects in the Medical Sciences area received maximum financial support (32.03%). Next to this, comes Engineering & Technology (29.69%). Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences received funding support of the order of 7.19% each. Fifty percent (50%) of the total support was given to the academic sector comprising of universities, deemed universities and institutes of national importance. The National Laboratories under government received 30% of the total financial support. Among the funding agencies, the extramural R&D support by Department of Science & Technology (DST) was the highest with Rs.572.11 crores.

The next annual survey for updating the above database and to produce directory for the year 2006-07 is being launched. Also, based on the above mentioned database, the DST has been bringing out reports giving quick analyses on the extramural research support by the central government agencies. Three reports on the funding pattern of the sponsored research by scientific agencies for the periods 1985-90, 1990-95 and 19952000 have already been brought out by the division. For the benefit of scientific community, the work to produce third report for the period 2000-05 was initiated this year. This work is under progress.

Sponsored Studies

Scientific and technological research needs huge investments and calls for a judicious utilization of scarce resources like investment, trained manpower, raw materials etc. The growth of science and technology, its performance and impact on society and economy are indicators to assess the effectiveness of planning and policy formulation. For this purpose, it is necessary to build science and technology information on a continuous basis. The National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division is entrusted with the task of collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of vital S&T information at a national level.

A brain storming session was organised during this year to gather views of experts on new initiatives required and to diversify research projects received by the division. Integration of economics and social science in the NSTMIS efforts, measuring S&T input and output, study linkages between Industry, Technology and S&T policies and study on out-turn of scientists and engineers were some action points which emerged from this brain storming session.

A number of studies were sponsored to build reasonable database/analyses on S&T investment, S&T manpower availability/deployment/gap and S&T indicators.

The following projects were completed during the year:

• Status of science teaching in secondary schools of Assam;
  
• Study of R&D gaps and needed thrust areas in various industry sectors;
  
• Impact of e-governance programmes on Indian society: A comparative study of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala;
  
• Data base management system of medicinal plants of Manipur;
  
• Study of interaction between technical institution and SMEs in the S&T sector;
  
• Directory of completed sericulture projects and experts in India;
  
• Assessment of emerging opportunities and prospects of careers in science and technology; and
  
• Analysis of output of extramural R&D projects funded during 1995-2000 period.

International Collaboration

The Department has actively participated and contributed in the development and revision of standards/ concepts/definitions used for collection of Science Statistics and development of Science & Technology Indicators in UIS and OECD meetings. The department also provided information for the country, on Science & Technology indicators to UNESCO Institute for Statistics for their publication titled “UIS Statistical year book”.