Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the 30th Foundation Day of the Technology Development Board (TDB), emphasizing the critical need for greater awareness and outreach about the Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDI Fund) among stakeholders. The Minister expressed concern that thousands of applications are being received from applicants who do not understand the fund's purpose, noting that many perceive it as simply another source of finance or conventional loan facility rather than its intended purpose of supporting technology development and research.
Dr. Singh stressed that the RDI Fund is designed to support technology development and research in a manner that contributes to scientific progress and integrates these activities into national economic growth. He called for efforts to ensure stakeholders understand the spirit and intended purpose of the Fund so that benefits reach appropriate beneficiaries. The Minister acknowledged that while the funding process already has transparent safeguards, the government remains open to suggestions for additional safeguards where feasible.
The Minister highlighted TDB's role in educating stakeholders about such initiatives, emphasizing that while technology and policy frameworks are changing rapidly, stakeholder mindsets must also evolve accordingly. TDB was created with the vision of ensuring technologies do not remain confined to laboratories but are translated into products, solutions and enterprises that bring ease of living to citizens, provide livelihoods and contribute to the country's economy.
Dr. Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with placing science, technology and innovation high on the government agenda, describing the last 12 years as a decade of scientific renaissance in India. He highlighted the growth of India's start-up ecosystem, noting that more than 50% of start-ups now come from smaller towns (not confined to Bengaluru or Hyderabad), with significant participation from women entrepreneurs.
The Minister emphasized the importance of private-sector participation, noting this approach has been followed in space, biotechnology and nuclear sectors. He appreciated TDB's role in supporting the journey from laboratory to market, citing examples including Skyroot and BotLab, and noted that moving beyond conventional bureaucratic approaches has enabled TDB to become an important part of the emerging technology ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Dr. Singh stated that TDB should support technology development both in early phases and at later stages (noting the RDI Fund offers support at TRL4 level), and that TDB has set up a model of public-private transition and technology self-reliance that could become an important pillar of India's economy. He emphasized that strengthening India's technological capabilities would also strengthen the country's geopolitical status in the Global South and worldwide.
The Minister concluded that while TDB's first thirty years focused on building bridges between laboratory and market, the next thirty years should focus on building global technology champions from India, moving from ideas to innovation to industry toward a developed India by 2047.