IMPRINT India: Boosting Research and Innovation for a Technologically Advanced Nation

  

The IMPRINT India scheme, an acronym for “Impacting Research Innovation and Technology,” is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resource Development in India. The program aims to strengthen research and innovation in the country by addressing major engineering and technology challenges across ten crucial domains. By promoting indigenous research and development, IMPRINT India seeks to reduce dependence on foreign technology and enhance the nation’s self-sufficiency. This article explores the objectives, features, functionality, benefits, and vision of the IMPRINT India scheme.

Objectives of IMPRINT India: 

The primary objectives of the IMPRINT India program are as follows 

1. Identify Areas of Relevance: The scheme aims to identify areas in society that require immediate innovation and technological intervention. By focusing on pressing challenges, IMPRINT India ensures that research efforts align with the needs and aspirations of the nation.
2. Enhance Research Funding: IMPRINT India aims to secure increased support and funding for research in the identified areas. By providing adequate resources, the program encourages technical institutions to undertake comprehensive research projects to address societal challenges effectively.  
3. Measure Impact: The scheme strives to measure the outcomes of research and innovation efforts and assess their impact on the standard of living of the people. By evaluating the tangible benefits resulting from research projects, IMPRINT India ensures accountability and relevance.

Launching and Ministry:

IMPRINT India was launched as a joint initiative of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The program is supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. This collaboration between prestigious educational institutions and government bodies reflects the commitment to foster research, development, and technological advancements in India.

Features and Functionality:

IMPRINT India operates through the following features and functionality:

1. Technology Domains: The scheme focuses on ten critical technology domains, including healthcare, information and communication technology, energy, sustainable habitat, nano-technology hardware, water resources and river systems, advanced materials, manufacturing, security and defense, and environment and climate. These domains cover a wide range of areas impacting the nation’s progress and well-being.
2. Distributed Expertise: The participating institutions, namely IITs and IISc, contribute their expertise in specific domains. This distributed approach ensures that research efforts are coordinated, comprehensive, and diverse, leading to innovative solutions and breakthroughs.
3. Industry Participation: IMPRINT India encourages industry participation in research projects. By involving industries, the program promotes collaboration between academia and the private sector, fostering technology transfer, commercialization, and practical applications of research outcomes.

Benefits:

The IMPRINT India scheme offers numerous benefits to the nation:

1. Technological Self-Reliance: By investing in research and innovation, IMPRINT India aims to reduce dependence on foreign technology and foster indigenous advancements. This promotes self-reliance and strengthens India’s position as a technologically independent nation.
2. Enhanced Research Ecosystem: The program creates a conducive environment for research and development by providing higher funding and support for identified areas. This encourages researchers, scientists, and technical institutions to undertake innovative projects, leading to advancements in science and technology.
3. Improved Standard of Living: IMPRINT India’s focus on societal challenges directly impacts people’s lives, aiming to improve the standard of living. The research outcomes and technological interventions in critical domains such as healthcare, energy, and sustainable habitat have the potential to positively transform society.

Vision:

The vision of the IMPRINT India scheme is to establish a strong research and innovation ecosystem that addresses the country’s major technological challenges.