Boosting R&D Ecosystem: Anusandhan National Research Foundation Operationalizes Private Sector Funding

To bridge the critical gap between laboratory-scale research and commercial application, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has announced its first cohort of 19 'Second Level Fund Managers'. This strategic move marks a significant step in the implementation of the ambitious ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme. By creating a robust institutional mechanism for capital flow, the government seeks to incentivize private sector participation in deep-tech and high-risk research areas that traditionally suffer from a lack of patient capital. Historically, India's Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) has been heavily reliant on public funding, with private sector participation remaining relatively lower compared to global innovation leaders. The RDI scheme is designed to reverse this trend by acting as a venture catalyst. These 19 selected managers will play a pivotal role in identifying, vetting, and funding high-potential startups and industrial research projects. This decentralized approach to capital deployment aims to foster an ecosystem where innovation is not limited by budgetary constraints but is instead driven by merit-based, outcome-oriented financial support.