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

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.384
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18-02-2009
LOW INVESTMENT IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY R&D

384. SHRI N. R. GOVINDARAJAR:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the investment in our country for Science and Technology Research and Development is very low as compared to other developing countries;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the number of Scientific Research papers in India in the past ten years has increased from 11,000 to 19,000 whereas the number in China during the same period has jumped from 10,000 to 55,000;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the CSIR, largest Research Organisation is considering to allow its scientists who own patents to float private companies; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) & (b): According to the available official statistics, the expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in India is
0.88 %, which is higher as compared to most of the developing countries excepting China where it is 1.42%.
(c) & (d): As per the Science Citation Index (SCI) database, the number of Scientific Research papers in India increased from 11067 (in 1997) to 22215 (in 2007). Where as in China, the research papers during the same period increased from 12632 (in 1997) to 67433 (in 2007).
(e) & (f): Yes Sir, the CSIR proposal envisages equity participation of inventors in private companies.