A two day joint workshop on ‘Science Technology and Innovation Policy for Transformative Change’ was held by the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), and the Department of Science and Technology – Centres for Policy Research (DST CPRs) between 18th to 19th of February. The workshop aimed to build collaborative partnerships in STI policy between Indian and foreign scholars.
Dr T A Abinandanan, Coordinator, DST-CPR at IISc Bangalore, opened the first day by discussing the mandate of CPRs in India. Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Adviser, DST and Head, STIP Secretariat at DST, then explained India’s 5th National STI Policy: At a Glance & Process of Participatory Policymaking, going on to share the four-track process behind the formulation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy draft, ‘one of the largest, widest and diverse policy consultations undertaken’.
TIP thinking on Innovation Policy was introduced by Dr Matias Ramirez and Christina Miariti on major outcomes of studies undertaken in TIPC last year. In a second plenary session, the STI policy perspective of India and TIPC in line with Three Frames for Innovation were presented by TIPC Academic Director Prof. Johan Schot, followed by Convergence of SDGs by Prof Shubhini A Saraf.
The second day of the workshop started with a welcome address by Prof. Jeremy Hall, Director of SPRU, highlighting the department’s evolution and its contribution to science policymaking. The workshop then undertook breakout thematic group discussion on key areas of STI policy such as Conceptualising STIP: Global context; STI policy for Transformative Change.
Dr. Akhilesh Gupta said after the event : “A close collaboration of the DST’s Policy Research Centres with the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex will greatly help strengthening institutional mechanism in India and contribute meaningfully to furthering of International STI Policy engagements.”
A full report of the event is available here.