In Short : India’s energy transition requires a fundamental reinvention of the country’s research and development ecosystem, not merely the deployment of new technologies, according to R A Mashelkar. He emphasises that deep scientific capability, innovation-driven institutions, and industry–academia collaboration are essential to achieve energy security, global competitiveness, and long-term sustainability in India’s clean energy journey.
In Detail : India’s energy transition cannot succeed by focusing only on adopting and deploying existing technologies, but must be driven by a complete transformation of the nation’s research and development ecosystem. This view highlights the need for original innovation that is rooted in India’s unique challenges, resources, and development priorities.
R A Mashelkar has stressed that long-term energy security depends on the country’s ability to create knowledge, not just consume it. Without strong domestic R&D capabilities, India risks remaining dependent on imported technologies, limiting its strategic autonomy and economic resilience in the evolving global energy landscape.
A reinvented R&D ecosystem must encourage breakthrough science alongside applied research. Fundamental discoveries in materials, chemistry, storage, and systems engineering are critical to developing next-generation solutions for renewable energy, hydrogen, storage, and grid management that are affordable and scalable for India.
Industry–academia collaboration is identified as a central pillar of this transformation. Research institutions must work closely with industry to ensure that innovation moves efficiently from laboratories to large-scale deployment, reducing the gap between invention and commercial impact.
Mashelkar has also underlined the importance of risk-taking and failure-tolerant research environments. Transformational innovation often involves uncertainty, and India’s R&D institutions must be empowered with flexible funding models and governance structures that encourage experimentation and long-term thinking.
Human capital development is another critical aspect of reinventing the R&D ecosystem. Building a pipeline of scientists, engineers, and innovators with interdisciplinary skills will be essential to address the complex challenges of energy transition, climate change, and sustainability.
Public policy plays a decisive role in shaping this ecosystem. Stable, long-term support for research, aligned with national energy goals, can provide the confidence needed for institutions and industry to invest in ambitious innovation programmes rather than incremental improvements.
The emphasis on indigenous innovation also aligns with India’s broader aspirations for self-reliance and global leadership. By developing home-grown technologies, India can not only meet domestic energy needs but also emerge as a supplier of affordable clean energy solutions to other developing economies.
Overall, the message is clear that India’s energy transition is as much an innovation challenge as it is an infrastructure challenge. Reinventing the national R&D ecosystem will be crucial to ensuring that the transition is sustainable, inclusive, and driven by Indian ingenuity rather than dependence on external solutions.
