New Delhi, Aug 19: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday announced that the next round of disbursal under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund is likely to begin shortly, with officials expecting the process for selected firms to be completed within around two weeks.
Chairing the monthly review meeting of Science Ministries and Departments at Technology Bhawan here, Singh directed officials to expedite the disbursal process and minimise delays while maintaining stringent due diligence and safeguards for public funds.
Officials informed the meeting that proposals from selected firms had already undergone the required evaluation and that the next stage of disbursal was expected to be completed within about two weeks.
Singh said the RDI Fund's conflict-of-interest policy had been designed with stringent safeguards to protect both taxpayers' money and private capital. He welcomed suggestions from stakeholders and said additional safeguards could be considered wherever necessary.
The Minister noted that private equity sources are expected to contribute 50 per cent of the investment under the RDI framework, making it essential to protect the interests of both public and private investors.
He stressed that while verification and due diligence must remain uncompromised, timely release of funds was equally important to enable selected firms to take their projects forward.
The meeting was also informed that more than 20 additional Second Level Fund Managers are likely to be appointed within the next month, further strengthening the implementation of the RDI Fund.
Singh also reviewed proposals to expand the strategic areas covered under the RDI framework, particularly in view of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. He emphasised the need for the innovation ecosystem to remain flexible enough to respond to rapidly evolving technological developments.
The meeting also discussed measures to improve coordination and information sharing among various science and technology departments, with emphasis on identifying areas of common interest and avoiding duplication of efforts.
A review was also conducted of Sah-SANKALP, a resource book showcasing technologies developed through government-supported research. Officials said 56 of the 60 technologies featured had already been deployed at the grassroots level, while 41 had achieved Technology Readiness Levels of 8 or 9.
Interest has also been received from enterprises and entrepreneurs in adopting 38 technologies showcased under the initiative, with technology seekers being connected with the concerned laboratories.
Singh stressed the need to make scientific achievements more accessible to citizens, industry and potential technology users. He called for greater coordination among communication and social media teams of science departments and wider use of short-form digital content.
The proposed digital library of science and technology success stories was also reviewed. The initiative is expected to provide a common repository of validated content, including two-to-three-minute videos showcasing technologies and achievements of laboratories and institutions.
Preparations for the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2026, scheduled from October 27 to 29 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, were also reviewed. Three Nobel laureates and three other distinguished international award recipients have confirmed participation, while the exhibition is expected to feature up to 150 stalls.
The meeting further reviewed preparations for the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar Campaign 2026, scheduled from September 12 to 19 across 111 identified beaches. Participation from fisherfolk, educational institutions, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides, voluntary organisations and private stakeholders is being facilitated.
Officials also discussed initiatives to strengthen public engagement with science, including the proposed monthly ‘Vigyan Ki Baat’ lecture series beginning August 29, along with science and innovation-based competitions and quizzes in collaboration with MyGov.
The review meeting highlighted the government's approach of combining faster RDI fund delivery with robust safeguards, transparency and accountability to encourage greater private-sector participation in research and innovation.
