Eighth Regional Consultative Meeting on Ease of Doing Research & Development Held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
The 8th Regional Consultative Meeting on “Ease of Doing Research and Development” took place on October 30-31, 2025, at the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) in Thiruvananthapuram. Organized by NITI Aayog, the event gathered institutional leaders, vice chancellors, and representatives from various scientific ministries to discuss ways to enhance India’s research and development landscape. Key discussions focused on identifying challenges and promoting supportive mechanisms to foster a more conducive environment for scientific inquiry.
Opening Remarks and Framework Introduction
The meeting commenced with a welcome address from Prof. N.V. Chalapathi Rao, Director of NCESS. He emphasized the importance of creating an enabling environment for scientific research and highlighted the critical role of regional research institutions in driving innovation. Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh from NITI Aayog introduced the ROPE Framework—Removing Obstacles, Promoting Enablers. This framework aims to identify institutional and policy-level challenges faced by researchers while promoting supportive mechanisms such as flexibility, inter-agency collaboration, and capacity enhancement. Singh stressed that these efforts are essential for creating a conducive environment for scientific progress.
Enhancing Research Efficiency
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, provided valuable insights on improving research efficiency and impact. He suggested leveraging the expertise of retired scientific professionals and strengthening the University-Industry-Government (UIG) ecosystem. Dr. Ravichandran also advocated for greater data sharing among institutions to avoid working in silos and emphasized the need for improved science communication. By making research outcomes more relatable to society, he believes that the impact of scientific work can be significantly enhanced.
Addressing Internal and External Factors
In his address, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, a member of NITI Aayog, discussed the dual aspects influencing the ease of conducting research and development. He pointed out that internal factors pertain to the structure, governance, and functioning of research institutions, while external factors include regulatory barriers, funding mechanisms, and cross-sector coordination. Dr. Saraswat underscored the importance of addressing both internal and external challenges simultaneously to realize India’s ambition of becoming a global leader in research and innovation.
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