INNOVATION IN INDIA

INDIA'S RANK IN GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX

Scientific research and innovation in India are relatively lower compared to the developed western world countries. While in 2014, India’s position was 76 in Global Innovation Index, behind even small countries like Malta, Mauritius and Mongolia, in 2024 the rank is 39, which though a significant improvement, but still has a long way to go.

One would hardly hear of any great discovery emerging from India, in spite of the country having some of the very large scientific education and research centres like IITs, NITs, state-owned and private engineering, medical colleges and other autonomous scientific research institutes that foster learning and innovation.

WHY LOW INNOVATION IN INDIA?

India’s inability to grow as an innovation hub is, however, not without reason. The country’s academic system encourages students from childhood to score high grades and marks only, rather than create a new application having newer or higher capabilities. This prevents minds from exploring newer findings. And with no zeal to unearth the unknown, no path-breaking discovery can take place either.

That apart, what has limited India’s ability to create stunning inventions is its higher concentration on applied research instead of fundamental findings. Work on applied sciences can no doubt result in some significant optimization or enhancements to existing systems and processes. While this leads to some innovations too, but that falls short of building highly transformational or out of the box disruptive discoveries.

Moreover, the technical knowledge deciphered from any research-based study does not automatically shape into an innovative product. With the newly-acquired findings, one requires higher intellect and thinking to visualize unique possibilities to convert the knowledge into value or product, which most researchers would lack. This necessitates an entrepreneurial mindset and a product development environment, where greater academic-industry collaboration and multi-disciplinary focus are a must, most of which are missing.

Above all, it is a difference in the approach to education that makes all the difference. While top global universities choose passionate innovators and value creators for their MS, PhD and MBA programs, Indian universities look only for academic toppers.

In 2016, a 17-year old girl from Mumbai, Malvika Raj Joshi whose formal education was till grade IX, got accepted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology with scholarship, just because she was madly in love with Mathematics and Programming. This is unbelievable, but true.

Just ask yourself, would any Indian university ever accept such candidates? The answer is a unanimous 'no'. This explains why India is far behind in great inventions.

Thus, science education and research in India need a complete revamp from learning to innovation, if the nation wants to rank among the top 10 in global innovation index.

WHO IS A SCIENTIST?

A scientist is an innovator, and not necessarily an academic topper!

So, let's make research open ended - i.e. any passionate explorer can enroll for research without any formal degree. After all, deep thinking and not an IIT study brings breakthroughs.

UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION

The following quotes explain the essence of innovation, which is far away from our understanding of formal education and university degrees -

True education is innovation over gaining knowledge. Discovery should be at the centre-stage of every step in learning.

Great discoveries come only through disruptive ideas and not a PhD study.

A PhD degree does not make you a great scientist – but a disruptive discovery does!

Formal education or an IIT study is in no way linked to your ability to innovate. Even an illiterate can discover many concepts.

Great discoveries often come from simple thnking - Why did the apple fall? Thus innovative thinking matters more for newer findings rather than pursuing a PhD in science.

Most PhDs or PhD scholars in science are referred to as 'scientists'. But in reality, a scientist is far beyond a PhD is science. That's why we have thousands of PhDs but very few great inventors.

The real charm of life is to explore, find, discover and transform the world. That is a true innovative achiever. Not a PhD degree is science.

Innovation is problem solving. Being innovative enables one to crack challenges on every aspect of life!

 

OUR FORMULA FOR INNOVATION

Degrees=Rote Learning

Degrees + Job Seekers = Ordinary Performers

Explorer=Creative Enablers

Ideas=Innovation

Ideas + Entrepreneurship=Innovative Products

Ideas+ Degrees+ Explorers = Passionate Innovators!

NIRF INNOVATION RANKINGS 2024