NOV 02: The 8th Regional Consultative Meeting on “Ease of Doing Research and Development (R&D)” was convened by NITI Aayog at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, on 30–31 October 2025. The event brought together institutional heads, Vice Chancellors, and representatives of scientific ministries and departments to deliberate on strengthening India’s R&D landscape through policy reforms and collaborative strategies.
In his welcome address, Prof. N.V. Chalapathi Rao, Director of NCESS, emphasized the need to foster an enabling environment for scientific innovation and highlighted the vital role of regional institutions in promoting innovation-driven growth. Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh from NITI Aayog outlined the ROPE Framework—Removing Obstacles, Promoting Enablers—as the foundation of NITI Aayog’s initiative on the Ease of Doing R&D, aimed at addressing institutional and policy challenges while promoting inter-agency collaboration and capacity building.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, proposed leveraging the expertise of retired scientists, strengthening University-Industry-Government linkages, enhancing data sharing, and improving science communication to make research outcomes more accessible to society.
Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog, highlighted that improving the Ease of Doing R&D requires addressing both internal institutional structures and external regulatory frameworks.
Kerala Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, in his address, noted that the Ease of Doing R&D is closely tied to the Ease of Living, stressing the need for people-centric and regionally grounded innovation.
The two-day consultation concluded with interactive discussions reaffirming a shared commitment to build an efficient, inclusive, and collaborative R&D ecosystem in India.
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