NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - How to Stimulate Innovation in India? - Comments

Mahindra's initiative

aditya — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:02:37 -0400

We at Mahindra recently started a corporate blog (mahidrauniverse.com) which discusses issues related to innovation and our initiatives towards it. I would like to get your views on it.

Innovation in India

Dr. Paul Rigterink — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:45:29 -0400

As a retired manager and technical director of up to 400 US scientists, engineers, and businessmen, I have found Indian scientists, engineers, and businessmen to be very innovative. They are doing an excellent job with the resources and opportunities that they have available. It is too bad that some of the people at the World Bank do not fully recognize how Indian innovation is improving the lives of many people in India! I suspect that the World Bank personnel do realize the contributions that are being made and are only wishing for more of them. For ideas on what innovations can be made in the future, I suggest that Indian scientists, engineers, and businessmen read Paul Polak's book "Out of Poverty". Dr. Polak gives excellemnt ideas on what innovations are needed in the future. In addition, I believe that the World Bank must improve their innovation. Perhaps Indian scientists, engineers, and businessmen can help the World Bank personnel with innovation at the World Bank also.

How to Stimulate Innovation in India?

Manuel Bueno — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:47:01 -0400

This is exactly the same question that was asked by the World Bank last year and I have recently had the chance to read their subsequent report “Unleashing India’s Innovation”.

All in all it was an interesting reading with a complete analysis of the main innovation levers in the country, although sometimes I felt it was much too vague in its recommendations.

India is becoming a global innovator for high-tech products and services. However, it is well-known that the country is underperforming relative to its real innovation potential. This is quite puzzling taking into account the fact that India's stock of scientists and engineers engaged in Research & Development (R&D) is among the largest in the world.

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