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The CII has undertaken many initiatives in the area of science and technology. Some of these are:

• National Science and Technology Policy

CII provides policy input to the government on implementation of the National Science and Technology Policy.

• Emerging Technology

CII is currently working with the government, R&D and academic institutions, Indian industry, and overseas partners to forge partnerships in development and commercialization of nanotechnology projects and products in various fields.

• Technology Transfer

CII is working with the government, R&D and academic institutions, Indian industry, and overseas countries and partners to facilitate technology transfer (to and from India) for the benefit of Indian industry. It also organizes an annual Technology Summit with a partner country to showcase global technologies for Indian industry to adapt .

• Technology Incubation

CII, in partnership with the central government and state governments, is incubating startups and assisting existing enterprises in technology development, maturation, and commercialization in various fields.

• Innovation (Steer the Big Idea)

CII, in partnership with the government, is encouraging and facilitating recognition of young Indians' innovations at the international level. They are also helping steer big ideas for industrial usage.

• Industrial Design

CII, in partnership with government, institutions, and industries, has initiated a national dialogue to formulate a national design policy that was expected to be rolled out in 2005. It also organizes an annual Design Summit with a partner country to showcase global design for Indian industry to adapt .

• Technology Projects for Societal Benefits

CII has been doing pioneering work in the areas of municipal solid waste processing, value-added bamboo applications, and the like, by providing concept-to-commissioning support in establishing such projects to benefit industry and citizens.

• Intellectual Property Rights - A Strategic Business Tool

CII has taken a lead role in creating an intellectual property culture in the country and provides important policy inputs to government on amending policies and acts. It also provides value-added services to industry, government, and institutions toward building capability and to protect IP (patent, trademarks, copyrights and traditional knowledge). CII, through its Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance, strengthens the country's enforcement agencies.

India needs to increase its R&D investment. Investment in people and capital expenditure are both extremely low so far. The issues that need to be addressed at the micro level include the following:

People

Comparative indicators of innovation and personnel engaged in R&D in various countries indicate that India has a lower head count of R&D percent per capita than developed countries, which may affect its long-term innovative capability.

Internal Brain Drain

Significant numbers of talented scientists and technologists are migrating abroad, and diversion of talent away from R&D to nonscientific careers in both government and the private sector is a problem. There is a need to examine why so many talented younger scientists do not consider a career in science worthwhile by, and concrete steps to address this issue are required.

It is important to promise scientists and technologists the necessary opportunities, such as enhanced salaries, perks and facilities, and free patent service for recognized R&D personnel. Corporate income tax treatment of these expenses could be made more favorable than what it is today.

Increasing the budgetary provisions for education is a must. It is also necessary to create an appropriate infrastructure in basic science, from the 10+2 level, to make it attractive to talented young people.

For the high-tech industry, there is a need to encourage knowledge inflow into India and also the proliferation of communication and computing resources across the country. Dramatic duty reductions for all communications and computing hardware are a necessity to guarantee India's place among the developed nations.

There is also an urgent need to strongly enforce the intellectual property rights (IPR) regime in the country. Government should especially assist patenting and IPR protection. At the same time, legal provisions have to be thought of to protect the IP interests of scientific innovation and inventions.

If India is to emerge as a strong source for new products for the global market, it requires the following: the ability to manage R&D projects effectively to reduce the product development cycle time, simplified procedures for making equipment redundant for R&D, and simplified procedures to transfer bonded equipment between various Software Technology Parks of India Limited (STPI) units of the same legal entity.

India and the U.S. have, over the years, collaborated in the area of science and technology. Some of the agreements they have signed are the US-India Fund (USIF), ICAR MOU, Indo-US Vaccine Action Program, DST-NSF Program, and Indo-US Science and Technology Forum. The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum facilitates and promotes interaction, in India and the U.S., between government, academia, and industry in science and technology.

There are possibilities for collaboration and connection in carrying out workshops, exchange of scientists and experts, joint research programs, and the like in science and technology. Agricultural research continues to remain a large area for cooperation. Collaborative research projects in fundamental areas of science and technology offer great potential.