Annual Report 1999-2000

Scientific Research

National Science And Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS)

The National Science & Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division continued its efforts of generating and making available information on resources both manpower as well as financial devoted to scientific and technological (S&T) activities by conducting national surveys both through in-house as well as sponsored studies.

(i) S&T Resources Studies

Based on the national survey on resources devoted to research and development activities for the year 1996-97, two national level reports entitled "Research and Development Statistics 1996-97" and a sectoral report entitled "Research and Development in Industry 1996-97" were brought out during the year under report.

The salient features of the latest survey for the year 1996-97 are that the national investment on research and development (R&D) activities attained a level of Rs.8340.17 crore which was 0.66% of Gross National Product. The major share of R&D expenditure was met from Central Government sources (69.7%). State Governments share in R&D expenditure being 8.7% and the remaining 21.6% being met from the private industry. More than 3.35 lakhs personnel were employed in R&D establishments. The report provides detailed data and analyses both at macro and micro levels besides containing other relevant secondary sources data related to S&T.

The sectoral report on Research & Development in Industry 1996-97 provides detailed information on the financial and human resources devoted to industrial R&D activities. The industry comprising public and private together spent Rs.2333.01 crore and was 0.49% of sales turnover on R&D activities. The report also gives detailed analysis of data in respect of R&D expenditure by industry groups, by fields of science, by objectives, by location of R&D centres and by R&D manpower etc. Next national survey for collecting data on resources devoted for research and development activities for the year 1998-99 was launched during the year. Questionnaires have been mailed to nearly 2797 R&D establishments from central, state and industrial sectors.

(ii) Information System/Database Activities

With a view to disseminate information on research and development (R&D) projects for the benefit of different interest groups, the National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) division of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) continued its effort to compile information on extramural R&D projects funded by different central agencies. Besides maintaining a computerised database on extramural R&D projects from 1985-86 onwards, the department publishes annually a directory of extramural research and development projects funded during the year. The preparation of the directory for the year 1998-99 is in progress and the Directory is expected to be published during the year.

The directory for the year 1997-98, eighth in the series, contains information on 1780 new R&D projects approved by 16 central government departments/agencies. The total approved cost of these projects was Rs.218.57 crores. Projects in Engineering & Technology (37%), Biological Sciences (21%) and Earth Sciences (13%) together cost about 71% of the total R&D support. Forty seven percent of the total support was given to the academic sector. The National Laboratories under Central Government received 46% of the total financial support. Among the funding agencies, the extramural R&D support by DST was higher (Rs.52.50 crores) compared to other agencies closely followed by Department of Electronics (49.23 crores).

(iii) Sponsored Studies

The scientific and technological activities play a vital role in the economic, social and physical development of a country. Scientific and technological research needs huge investments and calls for a judicious utilization of scarce resources like investment, trained manpower, raw materials etc. The growth of science and technology, its performance and impact on society and economy are indicators to assess the effectiveness of planning and policy formulation. For this purpose, it is necessary to build science and technology information on a continuous basis. The National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) under the Department of Science and Technology is entrusted with the task of collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of vital S&T information at a national level.

With a view to build reasonable database/analyses on S&T investment, S&T manpower availability/deployment/gap and S&T indicators, a number of studies were sponsored and the reports of these studies were widely disseminated to planners, policy makers and S&T community.

The following new projects were approved /commissioned during the year:

• Research & Development activities in Small Scale Industries of Madhya Pradesh in last three years (1994-97). M.P. Consultancy Organisation Ltd., Bhopal.
  
• Study on the Performance of S&T students of the Universities in the N. E. Region, in selected National Eligibility Tests. Institute of Advanced Study in Science & Technology, Guwahati.
  
• Study of R&D in small-scale industries in Karnataka State.
  
• The following projects were completed during the year:
  
• Employment of Persons with disabilities in the S&T Sector – The Status and Prospects.
  
• Electronics Communication and Information Technology infrastructure for India Vision 2020 and Globalisation.
  
• Assessment of Anticipated gaps in Demand and Supply position of S&T Manpower (Engineering Graduates) in the present and future years keeping in view the national priorities and the New/Emerging Areas.
  
• Role of In-house R&D in Indian Industry.
  
• IT Profile at Bangalore.
  
• Assessment of Brain Drain among Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Colleges of Engineering Graduates: Methodologies & monitoring.

(iv) International Collaboration

The Department has been maintaining liaison with UNESCO and other concerned International/ national agencies for the S&T and related statistics.