DST releases Draft 5th National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy for public consultation

News: The draft of the 5th National Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) Policy has been finalized and is now available for public consultation.

Facts:

Vision of the Policy: The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy will be guided by the following broad vision;

• To achieve technological self-reliance and position for India among the top three scientific superpowers in the decade to come.
• To attract, nurture, strengthen and retain critical human capital through a ‘people-centric’ science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem.
• To double the number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) researchers, Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GERD) and private sector contribution to the GERD every 5 years.
• To build individual and institutional excellence in STI with the aspiration to achieve the highest level of global recognitions and awards in the coming decade.

• Read Also:-CURRENT AFFAIRS 2020

  Key Features of the Policy:

• Open Science Framework: A future-looking, all-encompassing One Nation, One Subscription’ is proposed as part of a new Open Science Framework that will ensure free access to scientific data for all.
• National STI Laboratory: The policy suggests the establishment of a National STI Observatory that will act as a central repository for all kinds of data related to and generated from the STI ecosystem.
  • From this Observatory, all data and information related to publicly-funded research would be made freely accessible to everyone under FAIR (Fair, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) terms.
• Improve STI Education: Strategies to improve STI education making it inclusive at all levels and more connected with the economy and society will be developed through processes of skill building, training and infrastructure development.
• STI Funding: With an aim to expand the financial landscape of the STI ecosystem, each department/ ministry in the central, the state and the local governments, public sector enterprises, private sector companies and startups will set up an STI unit with a minimum earmarked budget to pursue STI activities.
• Research in STI: Research and Innovation Excellence Frameworks (RIEF) will be developed to enhance the quality of research along with promotion of engagements with relevant stakeholders.
• Self Reliance in STI: A two-way approach of technology self-reliance and indigenization will be adopted and focused upon in alignment with national priorities like sustainability and social benefit and resources to achieve the larger goal of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
• Establishment of Strategy Technology Board: The policy proposes the establishment of a Strategic Technology Board that will bridge all strategic government departments and monitor and recommend technologies to be bought or indigenously made.
• Equity and Inclusion in STI: An India-centric Equity & Inclusion(E&I) charter will be developed for tackling all forms of discrimination, exclusions and inequalities in STI leading to the development of an institutional mechanism.

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