PM Modi launches Rs 1 Lakh crore R&D and innovation scheme

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister welcomed the scientists from India and abroad, innovators, members of the academia, and other distinguished guests.

Speaking about India’s remarkable victory in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, Modi highlighted that the entire nation was elated by the success of the Indian cricket team. He emphasized that this was India’s first Women’s World Cup win and extended his heartfelt congratulations to the women’s cricket team. The Prime Minister stated that the nation was proud of them and expressed confidence that their achievement would inspire millions of young people across the country.

Prime Minister underlined that yesterday, India made significant strides in the world of science and technology. He highlighted the successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite by Indian scientists and extended his heartfelt congratulations to all scientists involved in the mission, as well as to ISRO.

Modi emphasized that today is also a landmark day for science and technology. He noted that in the 21st century, there was a pressing need for global experts to come together and deliberate on emerging science, technology, and innovation to provide direction. This need, he said, gave birth to an idea, which evolved into the vision for this Conclave. He expressed happiness that the vision is now taking shape through this Conclave. The Prime Minister acknowledged the participation of various ministries, the private sector, startups, and students in this initiative. He stated that it is an honour to have a Nobel Laureate present among us today. He welcomed all attendees and extended his best wishes for the success of the Conclave.

Underlining that the 21st century is a period of unprecedented transformation, Modi remarked that the global order is witnessing a new shift, and the pace of change is not linear but exponential. With this perspective, India is advancing various aspects related to emerging science, technology, and innovation, maintaining a consistent focus on them. As an example, he highlighted the area of research funding and the Prime Minister recalled the familiar national vision of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ and noted that with a renewed emphasis on research, ‘Jai Vigyan’ and ‘Jai Anusandhan’ have been added to this vision. He informed that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation has been established to scale up research and innovation in Indian universities. Additionally, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the Research, Development and Innovation Scheme, with an allocation of Rs 1 lakh crore. He emphasized that efforts are being made to promote research and development in the private sector as well. “For the first time, capital is being made available for high-risk and high-impact projects”, stated Modi.

“India is working to build a modern innovation ecosystem and is focusing on improving the ease of doing research”, said the Prime Minister, highlighting that the government has undertaken several reforms in financial rules and procurement policies. Additionally, reforms have been made in regulations, incentives, and supply chains to ensure that prototypes can swiftly move from lab to market.

Emphasising that the policies and decisions taken in recent years to make India an innovation hub are now showing clear results, Shri Modi proudly shared key statistics. India’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade; the number of registered patents has increased 17 times; and India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem. He noted that over 6,000 deep-tech startups in India are currently working in areas such as clean energy and advanced materials. The Prime Minister added that India’s semiconductor sector is now taking flight. He also highlighted the growth of India’s bio-economy, which has expanded from $10 billion in 2014 to approximately $140 billion today.

Underscoring that in recent years, India has made significant strides in several sunrise domains including green hydrogen, quantum computing, deep sea research, and critical minerals, Modi emphasized that India has established a promising presence in all these areas.

“When science is scaled, innovation becomes inclusive, and technology drives transformation, it lays the foundation for major achievements”, remarked the Prime Minister, highlighting that India’s journey over the past 10–11 years exemplifies this vision. India is no longer merely a consumer of technology, but has become a pioneer of transformation through technology, said Shri Modi. He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, India developed an indigenous vaccine in record time and conducted the world’s largest vaccination programme.

Reflecting on how India has been able to successfully implement policies and programmes at such a mammoth scale, the Prime Minister attributed this achievement to India’s world-leading Digital Public Infrastructure. He highlighted that over two lakh gram panchayats have been connected through optical fibre and mobile data has been democratised across the country.

Modi noted that while India’s space programme has reached the Moon and Mars, it has also been harnessed to benefit farmers and fishermen through space science applications. He acknowledged the contributions of all stakeholders behind these accomplishments.

Emphasizing the importance of inclusive innovation, the Prime Minister stated that when innovation is inclusive, its primary beneficiaries also become its leaders. He cited Indian women as the most prominent example of this transformation. He observed that whenever India’s space missions are discussed globally, Indian women scientists receive significant recognition. In the field of patent filing, he pointed out that a decade ago, fewer than 100 patents were filed annually by women in India, whereas today the number exceeds 5,000 per year. He further highlighted that women now constitute approximately 43 percent of STEM education enrolments in India, surpassing the global average. These figures, he said, reflect the rapid progress of women in the field of science and technology in India.

Prime Minister Modi remarked that certain moments in history serve as lasting sources of motivation for generations. He recalled how a few years ago, children across India witnessed the journey of Chandrayaan, experienced its setbacks and successes, and developed a deep fascination for science. He noted that the recent space station mission by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has sparked fresh curiosity among children. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of harnessing this growing inquisitiveness in the younger generation. He stated that the more bright youngsters India can guide towards science, technology, and innovation, the better it will be for the nation. In line with this vision, he informed that nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have been established across the country, where over one crore children are conducting experiments with curiosity and creativity. He announced that, encouraged by the success of these labs, 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up. The Prime Minister further highlighted that hundreds of new universities have been established in recent years, including seven new IITs and sixteen IIITs. He added that under the new education policy, it has been ensured that students can now pursue STEM courses such as science and engineering in their local languages.

Highlighting that the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship has been highly successful among young researchers, with grants under the scheme providing significant support, Shri Modi announced that over the next five years, 10,000 fellowships will be awarded to further strengthen R&D in the country.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to understand the transformative power of science and technology, and to ensure that they remain ethical and inclusive. He cited Artificial Intelligence as an example, noting its widespread application from retail and logistics to customer service and children’s homework. He affirmed that India is working to make AI beneficial for every section of society. Under the India AI Mission, an investment of over ₹10,000 crore is being made.

“India is shaping a global framework for ethical and human-centric AI”, highlighted the Prime Minister, mentioning that the upcoming AI Governance Framework will be a major step in this direction, aiming to develop innovation and safety together. He announced that India will host the Global AI Summit in February 2026, which will accelerate efforts towards inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI.

Calling for intensified efforts in emerging areas, which are crucial for achieving the goal of a developed India, Modi shared several ideas, urging a shift from food security to nutrition security. He posed key questions: Can India develop next-generation biofortified crops to help combat malnutrition globally? Can innovations in low-cost soil health enhancers and bio-fertilisers serve as alternatives to chemical inputs and improve soil health? Can India better map its genomic diversity to advance personalised medicine and disease prediction? Can new and affordable innovations be developed in clean energy storage, such as batteries? He stressed the importance of identifying critical inputs where India is dependent on the world and achieving self-reliance in those areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that all those engaged in the world of science and technology will go beyond the questions posed and explore new possibilities. He affirmed his support for anyone with ideas and reiterated the government’s full commitment to funding research and providing opportunities to scientists. The Prime Minister stated his desire for a collective roadmap to emerge from this Conclave. He expressed strong belief that the Conclave will elevate India’s innovation journey to new heights. He concluded by extending his best wishes to all participants and invoked the spirit of “Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan.”

Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Nobel Laureate Sir Andre Geim and other dignitaries were present at the event.