GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3447
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23-12-2008
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC AREAS
3447. SHRI SARVEY SATHYANARAYANA:

SHRI K.J.S.P. REDDY:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether there are joint ventures with public and private partnership in the scientific areas including research;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the measures taken to promote the same while ensuring security of the country;
(c) the details of benefits drawn to the scientists and the country from public-private commercial set up with active participation of the scientists while they still continue to be Government employees; and
(d) the number of requests received from scientists and researchers for permission to start their own private research oriented commercial enterprises and the response of the Government thereto?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES
(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (c): There are no commercial joint ventures that have been set up under public and private partnership in the scientific areas including research. However, there are schemes initiated by the Government where R&D is undertaken jointly by public and private research institutions. These schemes include Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Programme, Small Business Innovation Research Initiative (SBIRI), New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI), Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (TDDP) etc.
(d) Under the Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (TDDP), the Government provides financial assistance to scientists, researchers and start-up entrepreneurs for setting up research oriented commercial enterprises. So far, 30 proposals have been received. Out of these 8 have been recommended for financial support.