Core Functions

• Conduct evidence-based policy research on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to strengthen India's STI ecosystem.
• Analyse national and international innovation policies and assess their implications for research, industry and society.
• Undertake technology assessment, foresight studies, horizon scanning and future scenario analysis to support strategic planning.
• Scenario building, strategic road mapping, and future-oriented policy studies in Emerging Technologies.
• Evaluate innovation ecosystems, startup policies, incubation programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Examine policy coherence in IP, trade, and sustainability domain
• Identification and analysis of skill gaps, human resource requirements, and institutional capacity gaps for strengthening India’s STI and innovation ecosystem.
• Develop methodologies for assessing research impact, innovation performance and socio-economic outcomes.
• Longitudinal and Cross-Sectoral Impact Studies. Enhance Technology Diffusion and Impact Assess diffusion of frontier technologies (AI, biotech, green hydrogen, semiconductors, water, pollution etc.)
• Promote policy support for scaling, commercialization and diffusion of CSIR technologies across strategic sectors.
• Mapping of STI resources across the discipline.
• Need assessment of women STEM.
• Produce policy briefs, foresight reports, white papers, innovation outlooks and strategic advisory documents for government and industry.

Research Strategy

Research programmes are implemented through short-, medium- and long-term projects, combining policy analysis, data analytics, scientometric studies, foresight methodologies, case studies and impact evaluation. The policy vertical leverages from CSIR-NIScPR's strengths in science communication, scientometrics, intellectual property studies, policy research and scientific publishing to bridge the gap between research, policy and practice.

Vision

The policy research at CSIR-NIScPR envisions becoming India's leading national knowledge hub for innovation policy, entrepreneurship research, technology diffusion, strategic foresight and technology assessment, providing robust evidence and strategic intelligence to support policymaking, accelerate the translation of research into innovation, strengthen pathways for commercialization of CSIR technologies, and contribute to an innovation-driven, globally competitive and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Research Projects in past 5 years:

• Identifying emerging sustainable energy technologies for a future innovation ecosystem: Blue-Energy Technology Foresight
• Enabling Growth in Research and Performance in Agriculture 4.0 through Collaborations
• Assessing the Citation-based Performance Evaluation in Research Reward System
• Tracing the ecosystem for Tech Start-ups in India from the perspective of Regional Innovation System
• Mainstreaming Gender in STEM through Gender Budgeting of CSIR
• Assessing the Efforts of Selected Scientific Organizations for Empowering Women in STEM
• Information Resources for Women in STEM: A Policy Perspective
• Women in STEM in India: Management of Knowledge Assets and SWOT Analysis
• Science Diplomacy Strategies in South Asian Countries
• Dynamics of Global Linkages in emerging Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) for Industries 4.0
• Policy interventions for High-Technology Start-ups in Niche Areas: IoT based systems and After treatment technologies in Automobiles
• TRL assessment of select CSIR technologies
• Analytical Introspection of Pollutant Control Technologies
• STI in Genome Valley
• Water footprint in Bundelkhand region
• Resource Development for SNA
• Patent landscaping plastic biodegradation
• Home-grown technology policy roadmap
• Prevalence, risks, challenges, contributing factors and socio-economic impact of stroke: The case of India
• State wise Synthesis of Transport Emissions in India– Effectiveness of Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) in Mitigating Emissions
• Random Inspection/Verification of Annual Inventory on Hazardous Waste Management submitted by various Hazardous waste generating and handling units
• Mitigation Potential for Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) towards Global Warming – An Assessment of their Environmental Acceptability as per Kigali Amendment.
• Quantification of Non-Exhaust Emissions from Road Transport to Address the Overlooked Environmental Policy Challenge
• Simulations of Low Global Warming Potential
• Refrigerants in Compliance with Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol
• Updating Emission Inventory of Greenhouse Gases and Other Air Pollutants from Key Emitting Sectors in Delhi
• Building an Emission Inventory for Road Transport Sector in India with an Assessment of Climate, Air Quality and Health implications of Bharat Stage Emission standards.
• Development of mid-temperature range thermoelectric devices for green energy generation.
• Assessment of Sustainable Working Fluids for Combined Refrigeration and Energy Sectors in a Circularity Framework

Current Research Projects

• Dynamics of Renewable Energy in Russia and India: Exploring the Potential of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development
• Centre of Advanced Research and Innovations in Assistive and Rehabilitative Technologies for the Elderly and Disabled Individuals – Development of AI-enabled Communication Aid System for Deaf & Mute
• Socio-Economic Impact Analysis (SEIA) of CSIR Technologies
• Barriers, Enablers, and Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs in India’s Science & Technology Sector
• Indicators for Measuring Novelty and Impact in S&T Systems: A Big Data Approach
• Technology-Backed Startups Using Patent Data
• A Comprehensive Analysis of Global Vaccine Policies and Global Health Security
• Landscape Analysis of Haemophilia Incidence and Therapeutic Developments in India
• Phenome India: CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase (PI-CHeCK)
• Climate Impact Assessment of Green Hydrogen Production and Leakage
• Building an Industry-Enabled Circular Ecosystem Framework for End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling and Sustainable Mobility in India

Events:

Workshop on India’s Semiconductor ecosystem, February 2026

International Symposium on Human-Centred AI and Sustainable Development: Holistic Pathways for Energy Security as a pre-event under AI-IMPACT Summit, February, 2026

3rd Global Summit on Diamond Open Access at Bengaluru (Co-Organiser), February 2026

Pre-Consultation Workshop: “Deep Science vs Deep Tech – A Paradigm Shift”, December, 2025

Indo-French seminar on “Open Horizons: Integrating Open Access, Open Data, and Computational Innovation" March, 2025.

International Conference on Aligning Science Technology-Innovation Indicators for Effective R&D Governance (STIiG), January 2025

Publications in last 5 years

Journals

• Avinash Kshitij and Kasturi Mandal, (2021) Exploring regional innovation system pathways for startups in India. Asian Research Policy, Vol. 12(1)
• SN Nishad, Sandhya Wakdikar, (2021), Future Food Demand and Food Security with Sustainable Approach. GLS Law Journal, 3(1), pp. 32–49.
• Aggarwal, R., Wakdikar, S., & Sharma, P. (2022). "Mainstreaming Gender at Workplace: CSIR-NIScPR evaluates Women in STEM". Science Reporter, March 2022, 59(3), 54–55.
• Avinash Kshitij and Kasturi Mandal, (2022) Reviewing the National Solar Mission in India from the lens of Mission Oriented Innovation Policies. Asian Research Policy, Vol. 13(1).
• Ologeh, I., Mandal, K., and Kshitij, A. (2022). Assessment of Gender Parity in Faculty Employment at Higher Education Institutions in India. Journal of Education and Practice, 13(13).
• Wakdikar, S., & Sharma, P. (2023). Interventions of CSIR toward Gender Parity. Journal of Women Empowerment and Studies (JWES), 3(06).
• Vinayak, Adarsh Raghuvanshi, Avinash Kshitij (2023). Signatures of capacity development through research collaborations in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Journal of Informetrics, 17(1), 101358.
• Gajbhiye, M. D., Sandhiya, L., Aggarwal, R., Kumar, N., & Bhattacharya, S. (2023). Evolution and mitigation of vehicular emissions due to India's Bharat Stage Emission Standards – A case study from Delhi. Environmental Development, 45, 100803.
• Sandhiya, L., Upadhayay, A., Kumar, N., & Bhattacharya, S. (2023). Region-wise and state-wise synthesis of vehicular emissions in India and their mitigation due to vehicular emissions standards. Science of the Total Environment, 900, 165838.
• Chandrashekhar Chavan, Suman Ray, and Chandra Mohan Kumar. (2024). Stem cell therapy approaches for non-malignant diseases and non-haematological diseases in India: A systematic review. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 160, 411–427.
• Suman Ray. (2024). The growing threat of strokes in India. Current Science, 127(11).
• A. Raghuvanshi and Vinayak (2024). Profiling Team Exploration Strategies of Collaborating Authors from Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science. Journal of Informetrics, 18.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, Aggarwal, Ranjana, & Sharma, Praveen. (2024). Hurdles and Challenges Perceived by Women Scientists in India. Journal of Women Empowerment and Studies (JWES), 4(3).
• Shreya, & Kshitij, A. (2025). Algae-a self-sustaining closed loop ecosystem as a resilient solution to future energy needs. International Journal of Green Energy, 22(15), 3504–3536.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, Tanuj Jajoria, and Praveen Sharma. (2025). Agrochemical Usage: Status and Roadmap for Indian Agriculture. Indian Journal of Environmental Protection, 45(4).
• Sandhiya, L., Maurya, V. K., Manonmani, G., & Senthilkumar, K. (2025). Atmospheric Fate and Emissions of Hydrofluoroether-356pcf3 in Indian Scenario. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 9, 2260–2271.
• Sandhiya, L., Aggarwal, R., & Upadhayay, A. (2025). Stimulation of ethanol-blending and emission standards to combat vehicular pollution in India. Environmental Development, 55, 101219.
• Suman Ray. (2025). Time Window and Watch-and-Wait: Stroke. Stroke, 56(5).
• Sandhiya, L., Aggarwal, R., Maurya, V. K., Hossain, S. K., & Tyagi, K. (2025). Environmental assessment of natural and fourth generation synthetic refrigerant blends for sustainable cooling in India. RSC Sustainability, 3, 5665.
• Kshitij, A., Mandal, K., & Shreya. (2026, April). Fostering Ocean Renewable Energy Startups in India: Insights From a Delphi-Based Foresight Study. In Natural Resources Forum. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Dua, J., Kanaujia, A., & Singh, V. K. (2026). Indo-German Research Collaboration: A Quantitative Analysis of the Research Publications during the Last Three Decades. Journal of Scientometric Research, 15(1), 109–123.
• Singh, V. K., Singh, P., Kanaujia, A., & Nandy, A. (2026). Who is Funding Indian Research? A Look at Major Funding Sources Acknowledged in Indian Research Papers. Journal of Scientometric Research, 14(3), 909–917.
• Sandhiya, L., Upadhayay, A., Kumar, N., & Nishad, S. (2026). Estimation of Non-exhaust Particulate Matter Emissions from Road Transportation in Indian States. International Journal of Environmental Research, 20:91.
• Bhatnagar, A., & Jaggi, M. (2026). Global Health Survey Index: Where Does India Stand? Current Science, 130(2), 113–116.
• S. Bhattacharya, L. Sandhiya, & L. Kashyap. (2026). Influence of Regulation on Research and Technology Maturation: A Bibliometric Investigation of Research in Aftertreatment Technology. Scientometrics. Accepted.
• Suman Ray and Pratibha Maan. (2026). Mapping Stroke Risk Disparities across Indian States: Implications for Region-Specific Prevention and Public Health Strategies. Indian Journal of Medical Research. Accepted.
• Suman Ray, Maan Pratibha, and Chandrashekhar Chavan. (2026). Stroke Clinical Trials in India: Bridging the Gaps in Public Health Outreach. Neurology India. Accepted.
• A. Raghuvanshi, H. Unni, Vinayak, and A. Chakraborti. Breakthrough Asymmetries across Disciplines and Countries: A Network Approach to the Structural Complexity of Scientific Progress. arXiv: 2506.18804v3.

Books

Avinash Kshitij, Shreya, Naresh Kumar India’s Renewable Energy Horizon: A Roadmap to a Sustainable Future, BENTHAM SCIENCE Books, (In press)

Research Reports / Discussion Papers / Policy Bulletins

• Avinash Kshitij, Kasturi Mandal, Vinayak, Natalia Tregubova, & Naresh Kumar. (2026). Human-Centred AI and Sustainable Development: Holistic Pathways for Energy Security. Research Report.
• GV Rayasam, Naresh Kumar, Sandhya Wakdikar, & Kasturi Mandal. (2026). Proceedings of "Women and Girls in Science: Driving Gender-Inclusive Innovation and Breaking Barriers".
• V. K. Saraswat, Vivek Kumar Singh, Sujit Bhattacharya, Anurag Kanaujia, Ashok Sonkusare, Thyagaraju B. M., Akanksha Dhamija, Pratibha Chanana, Tusha Agarwal, Simarjot Kaur, Deepak Narang, & Naba Suroor. (2025). Pathways to Progress: Analysis and Insights into India's Innovation Story. NITI Aayog, New Delhi, India.
• Avinash Kshitij, Shreya, & Naresh Kumar. (2025). Technology Foresight of Sustainable Energy Technologies for a Future Innovation Ecosystem: The Case of Blue-Energy. Research Report.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, Rastogi, S., & Sharma, Praveen. (2025). Resource Book for Women in STEM in India. Research Report.
• Jaggi, M., Goveas, J. J., & Sinha, S. (2024). Science Diplomacy - A Pathway for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. T20 Brasil Policy Brief.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, & Sharma, Praveen. (2024). Evaluation of Government Efforts for Women in S&T. Research Report.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, & Sharma, Praveen. (2024). Initiatives for Women in S&T: A Survey-Based Study. Policy Bulletin.
• Sujit Bhattacharya, Sandhiya Lakshmanan, & Kasturi Mandal. (2024). Aftertreatment Technologies in Automobile Sector: Opportunities for Home-Grown Technology Creation and Start-ups - A Policy Perspective. Policy Bulletin, published by CSIR.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, & Sharma, Praveen. (2024). Initiatives for Empowering Women in Science & Technology: A Critical Evaluation. Research Report.
• Wakdikar, Sandhya, & Sharma, Praveen. (2023). Gender and Higher Education in AcSIR. University News, 61(10), pp. 3–8.
• Suman Ray, Anil Kumar, Shubhada Kapil, Ritika Sharma, & Gayathri J. (2023). Early Detection & Management of Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia in India: A Policy Perspective. CSIR-NIScPR Policy Bulletin, February 2023/01. Policy Bulletin.
• Anurag Kanaujia, Madhulika Bhati, Sandhiya Lakshmanan, Shiv Narayan Nishad, & Sujit Bhattacharya. (2022). Air Pollution in India: A Critical Assessment and Suggestive Pathways for Clean Air. CSIR-NIScPR Discussion Paper Series.
• Aggarwal, Ranjana, Wakdikar, Sandhya, & Sharma, Praveen. (2022). Women in STEM: A CSIR Survey towards Gender Parity. Research Report.
• Aggarwal, R., Wakdikar, S., & Sharma, P. (2022). Women in STEM: A CSIR Study for Gender Equality. Policy Bulletin.