India’s Latest Science, Innovation & Tech Policy – STIP 2020

As the world is still finding the best provisions to tackle the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic efficiently, the evident slowdown in the global economy would surely take years to recover. However, even in this situation, India has been launching several forward-looking policies aimed to bring about a shift of paradigm in the national development of the country. Revolutionising the Indian education system with the recently introduced National Education Policy (NEP), the country is consistently working towards bringing sustainable growth, secure jobs and increase its competitiveness. One such incredible step is the New National Science Technology and Innovation Policy or STIP which is aimed at re-energising the national economy. The foundational values of this proposed policy include being inclusive, expert-driven, bottom-up, decentralised, inclusive, evidence-based, and knowledge-supported.

The STIP 2020, which is the fifth policy of India on science and technology demands a different approach from the earlier policies in the terms of processes and outcomes, especially because of it being launched at this crucial and unfavourable juncture. In a bid to ensure disruptive social entrepreneurship in every sector, the STIP 2020 is aimed towards providing a space for initiatives that seek to protect and ensure the diversity of innovation, harness the entrepreneurial potential and steer qualitative change in the lives of the people. At this stage, this is the only way to address the sustainability crises that the country is facing currently, along with preventing it in the future.

Also Read: The Future of Higher Education in India

The STI ecosystem has undergone rapid changes during the past 6 years in terms of its scope, scale and relevance, which must be reflected in the new policy in order to move towards a long term path of development for the country – something which is especially relevant due to the current covid-19 situation.

The clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) calls for a much greater focus on indigenous technological developments especially at the grass-root level, which makes it the perfect time to strengthen the connections between the government, industry and academia.

Must Read: 10 Indian Scientists Who Changed the World

The STI growth of India in recent years has been spectacular, with India holding the 48th rank in the global innovation index. Prioritising this, the STIP 2020 is aimed towards addressing grass-root level issues in order to build a long term trajectory to help fulfil the goals of millions of young students and scientists in India. Since an inclusive and participatory policy formulation process is an essential prerequisite to achieving this, the STIP 2020 process consists of 4 interlinked tracks of consultation.

Track-I is involved in the extension of public and expert consultations conducted by the Science Policy Forum, which will reach out to Indian citizens worldwide for comments and feedback. Track-II involves expert consultations through 21 thematic group discussions. Track-III is involved with consultations with ministries and states or union territories to ensure a decentralised approach while Track-IV involves apex-level consultations and advice.

Some key issues such as increasing research and development (R&D) expenditure to 2% of the GDP, strong state-centre partnerships, indigenous technological development, industry-academia-government interconnectedness, equity, and inclusion, contributions of the private sector to R&D etc. will also be addressed by STIP 2020. 150 categories of stakeholder consultations and discussions have taken place till now, where more than 25,000 people have participated. 

Thus, the new science, tech and innovation policy a.k.a. STIP is incrementally aimed at revolutionising the science and tech sector in India in terms of education as well as employment and research opportunities! Keep watching this space as Leverage Edu brings you the latest updates on this new STIP policy 2020 as well as from around the global educational spheres! Don’t forget to check out our exclusive reads on emerging courses, careers, quizzes and more!