Vineet Gupta, Ashoka University: Strengthening Research in Indian Universities with Global Models and Innovation

New Delhi: For Indian universities to enhance their global standing and drive meaningful innovation, strengthening research infrastructure is a crucial priority. Many institutions are now realizing the need to elevate their research standards, adopting successful models from leading universities worldwide while also embracing resource-efficient strategies. Vineet Gupta, Founder of Ashoka University, emphasizes that a two-pronged approach—learning from established global research institutions and fostering frugal innovation—can help bridge the gap and position India as a leader in higher education and research.

Diversifying Research Funding: Lessons from Global Universities

One of the key differentiators for top research universities, particularly in the United States, is the diverse sources of funding that support cutting-edge innovation. Unlike India, where government grants remain the predominant source of research funding, U.S. institutions leverage a combination of federal support, philanthropic donations, and industry partnerships to sustain their research ecosystem.

Government Funding

In the U.S., public universities benefit significantly from federal allocations for research and development (R&D). In 2022, the U.S. government allocated over $54 billion for scientific research, with more than 50% of university R&D expenditures funded by federal sources. The U.S. spends nearly 3% of its GDP on research, whereas India currently invests around 0.5%.

Vineet Gupta of Ashoka University acknowledges the recent increase in government-backed research initiatives in India, including the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF) in 2023. "The NRF is a step in the right direction—it will centralize research funding and offer much-needed financial and institutional backing to Indian researchers, making innovation more structured and outcome-driven," he states.

Philanthropy and Endowments

Philanthropy plays a significant role in research funding at leading U.S. institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, where large endowments finance everything from faculty research to infrastructure development. Philanthropic organizations like the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust have also played a crucial role in advancing research in critical areas such as healthcare and sustainability.

Vineet Gupta highlights how philanthropy in Indian higher education has gained momentum in the past two decades. Institutions like Ashoka University and Plaksha University have pioneered the collective philanthropy model, with over 150 donors contributing to their development. "Philanthropy is no longer limited to infrastructure development; it can play a major role in supporting research funding, creating world-class labs, and encouraging breakthrough discoveries," Gupta asserts.

Industry Collaboration

Globally, industry partnerships have become a cornerstone of research funding. Companies actively collaborate with universities to set up research hubs, as seen in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, which hosts multiple joint labs, including:

• Alibaba-NTU Global e-Sustainability CorpLab
• HP-NTU Digital Manufacturing Joint Lab
• Joint NTU-WeBank Research Centre on Fintech

Vineet Gupta suggests that Indian institutions can adopt similar models by fostering partnerships with corporate players and aligning research objectives with industry needs. He adds, "The increasing focus on CSR funding for higher education is another opportunity that universities can leverage for research funding."

International Research Funding Models and Their Relevance to India

While the U.S. leads in university research funding, European and UK-based models offer alternative strategies that could be beneficial for India.

European Research Council (ERC)

The European Research Council (ERC) is one of the most influential funding bodies in Europe, supporting researchers through various grants, including:

• Starting Grants
• Consolidator Grants
• Advanced Grants
• Synergy Grants

Operating under the Horizon Europe programme, ERC funds pioneering research across disciplines, offering a possible roadmap for Indian institutions to establish similar funding bodies for long-term research sustainability.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

The UKRI model, launched in 2018, integrates multiple research councils into a single funding system, streamlining research and innovation efforts across universities. "A unified approach to research funding, like UKRI, can help Indian universities consolidate research resources and increase their impact," Gupta notes.

Frugal Innovation: Leveraging India’s Strengths

While India may not match the U.S. or Europe in research funding yet, frugal innovation has emerged as a unique strength. The country has demonstrated world-class advancements in space technology (ISRO), digital payments (UPI), and IT services, all developed with cost-efficient models. Universities need to apply similar innovative principles to research, ensuring high-impact outcomes with optimized resources.

Gupta believes Indian universities should focus on solving local challenges first before scaling up globally. "Research that directly addresses climate resilience, healthcare, agriculture, and digital infrastructure in India will have far-reaching benefits, ensuring that resources are utilized effectively," he adds.

Building a Research-Driven Culture in Indian Universities

For research ecosystems to thrive, cultural transformation within universities is just as important as funding. This includes:

1. Strong Mentorship Networks

A robust mentorship ecosystem helps cultivate research talent. Faculty mentorship programs should be designed to guide students in research methodologies, proposal writing, and grant applications. "Students are inspired by faculty-led research. Universities must invest in structured mentorship programs to nurture the next generation of researchers," Vineet Gupta emphasizes.

2. Infrastructure Investment

State-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, and digital research tools are crucial for enabling groundbreaking discoveries. Many Indian universities still lack adequate research infrastructure, limiting their potential in global academia. "Investing in research facilities and digital collaboration tools will help students and faculty engage in high-impact, cross-border research partnerships," says Gupta.

3. Technological Integration

Digital platforms can streamline research processes, enhance collaborations, and facilitate global academic partnerships. "Technology-driven research tools, such as AI-powered data analytics and cloud-based research collaboration platforms, will revolutionize higher education research in India," Gupta asserts.

The Road Ahead: Envisioning a Research-Driven Future

For India to establish itself as a global hub for research and innovation, universities must:

1. Expand research funding sources through government support, philanthropy, and industry collaborations.
2. Foster frugal innovation, leveraging India's strengths in cost-effective, scalable solutions.
3. Build a strong research culture, emphasizing mentorship, infrastructure, and technological integration.

As Vineet Gupta, Founder of Ashoka University, puts it, "With the right funding strategies, industry collaborations, and research-driven mindset, Indian universities can leapfrog into the global innovation landscape, driving both national and international progress."