The ₹20,000-crore allocation to drive research, the expansion of AI and geospatial initiatives and further push to Atal Tinkering Labs are some of the significant steps taken in the Union Budget 2025-26 to strengthen the country’s research & development (R&D) ecosystem, but the country needs more, industry players said.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated ₹20,000 crore to the Department of Science and Technology to promote private sector-driven innovation. Sitharaman further said 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in the next five years to cultivate scientific temper in young minds.
The 2025 Union Budget marks a significant step forward in strengthening India’s R&D ecosystem, Shirshendu Mukherjee, Managing Director, Wadhwani Innovation Network, said.
“The ₹20,000 crore allocation for private & public sector-driven research, the expansion of AI and geospatial initiatives, and the push for Atal Tinkering Labs demonstrate the government’s strong commitment to fostering innovation-led growth. By nurturing creativity from a young age and advancing deep tech research, these investments will accelerate AI, digital transformation, and position India as a global leader in emerging technologies,” he told PTI.
He said that to further catalyse this momentum, continued focus on industry-academia collaboration, commercialisation of research, and scalable funding models will be key.
“With sustained policy backing, India is well on its way to becoming a powerhouse of cutting-edge innovation, fueling Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.
“The establishment of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling and a ₹500 crore investment in AI-driven education will significantly enhance workforce readiness for the future,” Wadhwani Foundation President & CEO Ajay Kela said.
The industry believes the ₹20,000 crore investment in small modular reactor R&D and incentives for capacity augmentation will create opportunities for energy-intensive industries.
Fonte:
Times of India
Deccan Herald
Hortelã
Padrão de Negócios
Hindustan Times
IBEF
News Drum Desk
Beam Start
Ground News
Reddif Money Desk
LastLY
Top Indian News
Daily excelsior
