Innovation in India

Our Work

Mapping research and innovation in India

Working in partnership with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Research Councils and the UK-India Education and Research Initiative, NESTA is undertaking a new research project mapping the changing landscape of Indian research and innovation.

Designed as a resource for policymakers, higher education institutions, and innovative companies interested in more productive and strategic engagement with Indian counterparts, the project will culminate in a rigorous, independent report which will be launched in spring 2012.

What will the research cover?

The research will highlight trends, examining the latest data on the Indian research and innovation ecosystem. Informed by in-depth interviews with stakeholders across policy, business, higher education, research and civil society, it will provide insights into critical issues affecting India's innovation future. At a time when research and innovation are ever more globally interdependent, it will identify ways in which UK businesses and researchers can identify and grow more mutually beneficial and transformative collaborations.

Indian Prospects

The current Indian government agenda of a 'Decade of Innovation' is driving ambitious policy developments, with a target of doubling spending on R&D in the next five year plan. But can the rapid growth of higher education keep pace with India's vast human capital potential? How and where are India's research strengths developing and are they translating into commercial opportunities? Could radical low cost models of innovation developed by Indian companies disrupt innovation systems around the world? How is multinational innovation in India affecting the research ecosystem? And how are less tangible innovations in the social and creative economy likely to play out? Can India achieve its mission of 'inclusive innovation' and what will this mean for the UK and the rest of the world?

This work builds on previous work by the project team on innovation in India as part of Demos' Atlas of Ideas, and in particular the publication India: the uneven innovator and previous NESTA work including UK Global Innovation.