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

RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.389
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.04.2007

FOREIGN PATENTS IN SCIENTIFIC AREAS

*389. SHRI SURENDRA LATH:

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

(a) the scientific areas in which India has obtained foreign patents during the last five years and the names of the scientists or departments who have contributed for obtaining such patents;
(b) the steps being taken to promote the scientific research in India;
(c) the number of scientific research institutions functioning in various fields under Central Government in the country; and
(d) whether achievements made by these scientific institutions are evaluated?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(KAPIL SIBAL)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT AS REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.389 FOR 30.04.2007 REGARDING "FOREIGN PATENTS IN SCIENTIFIC AREAS"

(a) Foreign patents obtained by Indian research institutions and organizations during the last five years are in the broad areas of chemistry, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering, biomedical engineering, medical sciences, biotechnology, information technology, material sciences and herbal formulations. These patents have emanated from the institutions of various Central Government Departments/ agencies such as Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Atomic Energy, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Information Technology, Central Government Public Sector Undertakings, private industries and universities with the involvement of a large number of scientists working in many different areas such as physical sciences, life sciences, nuclear sciences, different fields of engineering like information technology, materials technology, mechanical engineering, medical sciences and biotechnology.

(b) The Government of India, on its part, has taken a number of steps to rejuvenate and promote scientific research in universities and other scientific institutes of excellence. The Plan allocation of scientific departments has been doubled from about Rs.12000 crores in the Ninth Plan to about Rs.25000 crores in the Tenth Plan and it is planned to increase it further in the Eleventh Plan. The Research Infrastructure Programme of DST is a targeted programme to upgrade the laboratory infrastructure in universities and other higher educational institutions. Several institutions, centres of excellence and facilities in emerging and frontline areas have also been established; for example, in the areas of Brain Research, Marine Biotechnology, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Soft Computing, Water Resources Development, Nanophosphors, Display Technology, Fuel Cell Technology, Ultrafast Processes, Protein Research, etc. More recently, two new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) have been set up at Kolkata and Pune which, apart from carrying out frontline and internationally-competitive research, would offer M.Sc. programmes in a multi-disciplinary and academically-flexible and research-oriented environment. Various agencies of Government of India have now attractive scholarship, fellowship and research support schemes for scientific manpower of all ages starting right from the school-level. The Government has also started some novel programmes to make our higher educational institutions professionally even more useful for developing technology. The DST programme of manpower development in collaboration with industry enhances the quality of technical education and makes it relevant for the industry through well-designed courses developed in close association with participating industries. A large network of S&T Entrepreneurship Parks and Technology Business Incubators has been established to synergize the technical expertise of engineering institutions and the commercial spirit of entrepreneurs for technology development and commercialization. A large number of technology development projects are now being jointly undertaken by higher educational institutions and industries. All these are strong pointers towards improvement in indigenous capabilities for technology development. In addition, the specialized departments such as Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) have their strong in-house research infrastructure to carry out research in many different areas to meet specific needs and also in cutting edge areas. These departments also promote scientific research through extramural funding.

(c) There are 822 research institutes and centres under various Central Government Departments and Central Public Undertakings which are working in different areas of science and technology in the country.

(d) Yes, Sir.

PATENTS GRANTED DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question 1: What has been the expenditure on R&D by the Central Government?

Answer: It has been moved from Rs.11050 crores in 2000-2001 to Rs.12072 crores in 2002-2003. It is estimated to reach Rs.14443 crores in 2004-2005.

Question 2: What is total investment on R&D activities in the country?

Answer: It was Rs.18000 crores in 2002-2003. The same is estimated to be rs.19726 crores in 2003-2004 and Rs.21639 crores in 2004-2005.

Question 3: What are the relative contributions of various Government Departments?

Answer: Eighty four per cent of the R&D expenditure by 12 Departments - CSIR, DRDO, DAE, DBT, DST, DOS, DOD, ICAR, ICMR, MIT, MNES, and MOE.

Question 4: How many patents have been filed by Indians in India?

Answer: