As per the global studies on research investment, 2014, India spends 0.85% of GDP on research as against United States-2.74%, China-2.10%, Japan-3.58%, Germany 2.84% and South Korea-4.29%. The Government has emphasized the need for promoting research that is socially relevant and is of use to the end users. For this purpose, two schemes namely Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) and Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) have been launched.
IMPRINT focuses on research in higher educational institutions, with an allocation Rs.487.00 crore for a period of three years beginning 2016-17. The cost of the project is met to the extent of 50% by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the remaining 50% by the participating Ministry/Department.
UAY promotes industry sponsored, outcome-oriented research projects with an outlay of Rs.475.00 crore for a period of two years beginning 2016-17. The project cost is met to the extent of 50% by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and 25% each by the Industry and the participating Ministry/Department. As regards funds released to NGOs, Department of Science & Technology has informed that Rs.455.512 lakh during 2015-16 and Rs.453.676 lakh during 2016-17 have been released to the NGOs, who are engaged in adaptive research and development (R&D) primarily in rural and difficult areas.