Trai seeks views on ways to improve R&D ecosystem in India
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has asked for industry opinion on ways to encourage and better the research and development ecosystem for telecom, broadcasting and information and communication technology (ICT) in the country in a new discussion paper released Friday.
Issues like the role of telecom operators in facilitating R&D in the country, steps to improve government-industry-academia dynamics, simplifying patent application and encouraging private sector R&D through incentives are among those raised in the paper titled 'Encouraging R&D in Telecom, Broadcasting and IT (ICT) Sectors'.
«The consultation paper is aimed at understanding the present ecosystem of R&D in India, identify and learn from practices adopted by R&D leaders across the globe and account for issues to be consulted with the stakeholders for enhancing the R&D scenario in India,» Trai said in the paper.
Trai also asked for industry opinion on why multinational companies focus on software rather than hardware in India, and the measures that could be taken to promote basic/applied research by MNCs strengthening the current R&D efforts in software and improving R&D efforts in hardware.
«How can awareness about IPR be increased among the researchers and industry in ICT sector? Is there a need to reduce the cost of filing patents in India? If yes, how can it be done?» the sector regulator asked.
It also asked for measures to strengthen IPR dispute resolution and if there is a need to introduce an IP-backed financing system in the ICT sector.
Stakeholders have till October 23 to send in their written comments on the issues outlined in the paper, and until November 6 to submit counter-comments, if any.
In the discussion paper, industry members have
