Role of S&T in the Developing World Role of S&T in the Developing World
Examine the impact of Science & Technology on developing nations — technology transfer, IPR barriers, R&D funding (GERD), leapfrogging, and sustainable indigenous innovation. Role of S&T in the Developing World पर UPSC सिविल सेवा परीक्षा अध्ययन गाइड।
Role of S&T in the Developing World
Examine the impact of Science & Technology on developing nations — technology transfer, IPR barriers, R&D funding (GERD), leapfrogging, and sustainable indigenous innovation.Role of S&T in the Developing World पर UPSC सिविल सेवा परीक्षा अध्ययन गाइड।
Core Concepts & Provisionsमुख्य अवधारणाएँ एवं संवैधानिक प्रावधान
1. S&T Funding (GERD) & Innovation Gap
Developing nations face a structural challenge in funding scientific research, relying heavily on government spending rather than private sector R&D.
- Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD): Most developing nations spend less than 1% of their GDP on R&D (e.g., India ~0.65%, Brazil ~1.2%). Developed nations like South Korea and the US spend 3% to 4.8%.
- Funding Source Mismatch: In developed nations, the private sector contributes over 70% of R&D funding. In developing nations, the government remains the primary funder (~60% in India), leading to bureaucratic delays and lower commercialization rates.
- Brain Drain: The migration of highly trained scientific talent to developed economies due to better research infrastructure and higher salaries, causing a severe human capital loss.
2. Technology Transfer & IPR Barriers (TRIPS)
The global intellectual property regime can act as a double-edged sword, incentivizing global innovation while locking out poorer nations from vital technologies.
- North-South Technology Transfer: The flow of advanced technology from developed industrial nations (Global North) to developing ones (Global South). Often constrained by high licensing costs and restrictive terms.
- TRIPS Agreement Constraints: The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights mandates strict patent enforcement, which can increase the cost of essential seeds and pharmaceuticals in developing nations.
- Compulsory Licensing & Evergreening: Developing nations utilize flexibilities like Compulsory Licensing (producing patented life-saving drugs locally during emergencies) and legal clauses preventing patent evergreening (such as Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act) to safeguard public interest.
S&T Indicators: Developed vs. Developing Nations
| Indicator | Developed Nations (Global North) | Developing Nations (Global South) |
|---|---|---|
| GERD as % of GDP | High (2.5% to 4.8%) | Low (Typically < 1%) |
| Primary R&D Funder | Private Sector (70%+) | Public Sector/Government (60%+) |
| IPR Strategy Focus | Strict enforcement, evergreening, high licensing fees | Flexibilities, generic manufacturing, compulsory licensing |
| Innovation Model | Frontier R&D (breakthrough technologies) | Adaptive R&D (reverse engineering, appropriate tech) |
3. Technology Leapfrogging & Appropriate Tech
Developing nations can accelerate development by adopting non-linear paths of technological acquisition.
- Technology Leapfrogging: Bypassing intermediate stages of technology to adopt the latest frontier systems (e.g., skipping landline telephony straight to mobile broadband, skipping physical branch banking to mobile UPI).
- Appropriate/Intermediate Technology: S&T systems that are decentralized, low-cost, resource-efficient, and easily maintainable using local skills (e.g., gravity-fed water purifiers, solar-powered farm pumps).