The National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR), a key constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is organizing a two-day international conference on “Aligning Science-Technology-Innovation Indicators for Effective R&D Governance”. The event will take place from January 14th to 15th, and will commemorate NIScPR’s 4th Foundation Day.
NIScPR, known for its focus on science communication and evidence-based policy studies, acts as a bridge between science, technology, industry, and society. The conference aims to bring together leading experts, policymakers, scholars, and researchers to discuss emerging issues in research and the challenges of performance evaluation for R&D governance.
The conference will focus on key themes, including methods, approaches, and practices in performance evaluation, open science, open source and open access, measuring the social impact of connecting R&D and social media, and foresight in R&D governance. Discussions will aim to develop more robust methods for capturing the performance and impact of government programs, with the goal of strengthening these initiatives.
The event is expected to attract 300 participants, including top scientists, policymakers, and young researchers from India and abroad. Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, will deliver the Chief Guest address, while Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), will present the Foundation Day Lecture.
Experts from NITI Aayog, the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, and several prestigious academic institutions will speak at the conference. International participants, including experts from France, Russia, South Korea, the Netherlands, Brazil, Australia, and Armenia, will contribute to the discussions, while science counsellors from Germany, Mexico, and The Netherlands will participate in panel discussions.
The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and paper presentations, providing a platform for diverse and engaging discussions on R&D governance, access, and inclusion through the application of Science-Technology-Innovation (STI) indicators.
The conference aims to generate novel methods and practices for performance evaluation and impact assessment of R&D initiatives. It will also produce key policy suggestions on how R&D governance can be enhanced, with deliberations on new initiatives like PM One-Nation-One-Subscription included in the final recommendations.
Young researchers will benefit from exposure to evidence-based policy-making tools and techniques, which will shape their research to address developmental challenges.
The conference outcomes will be published in various formats, including a special journal issue, a policy bulletin, and book proceedings, contributing to the advancement of R&D governance and innovation.