Dr Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), made a compelling case for enhancing India’s investment in research and development (R&D), particularly in the defence sector. Speaking at THE WEEK Defence Conclave, Dr Kamat stressed that both the government and the private sector must step up to meet the demands of the future battlefield.
“As a nation, we have to increase our spending on R&D,” Dr Kamat said. “If we are to meet future challenges and expectations.”
He noted that while China allocates 2.6 percent of its GDP to R&D, with both government and private industry contributing, India lags behind considerably. “If we look at our defence budget, only 5% is currently spent on R&D. In contrast, the US and China allocate between 10 to 15 percent of their defence budgets to R&D,” he added.
Dr Kamat said that announcement by the defence minister to increase this to 10 percent over the next five years was a very positive development.
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However, Dr Kamat identified institutional challenges that need to be addressed. Chief among them is the systemic fear of failure, particularly due to stringent audits. “All in the government face CAG audits. If a project doesn’t succeed, it’s seen as a waste of taxpayers’ money. But R&D by nature involves failure. If you already know the outcome, it’s not R&D—it’s just incremental improvement.”
Citing the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a model, he pointed out that despite being held up as a paragon of excellence, DARPA projects have a success rate of only around 10%. “The key is that they know when to shut down a project that doesn’t deliver, without the fear of auditors blaming them for losses.”
Without such risk tolerance, Dr Kamat warned, India would always shy away from high-risk, cutting-edge projects, thereby remaining a follower rather than a leader in defence technology.
He also called for greater openness and collaboration in the defence R&D ecosystem. “In the name of secrecy, we have put ourselves in silos. Even a small leak to the media prompts a letter from higher authorities. But true innovation needs openness. One must engage with academia, startups, and industry from the very beginning—not after the technology is ready.”
To this end, DRDO has already begun involving two industry partners from the start of each R&D project, he said. However, broader structural changes are needed. “There’s little risk capital for deep tech development, which often takes five to six years. While venture capital is available for startups offering quick service delivery, technology development requires patience and government support.”
Dr Kamat welcomed recent initiatives under the Technology Development Fund (TDF), which now allows DRDO to fund cutting-edge projects worth up to Rs 50 crore. “The environment is gradually changing. We are at a critical juncture. If we want to become a technology leader and achieve self-reliance in defence, we must work in synergy.”
He also urged the armed services to abandon the rigid General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) model in favour of a more flexible approach. “We must embrace spiral development—accept systems at 70% capability and evolve them. Otherwise, the private sector won’t get orders and will be forced to shut shop.”
Dr Kamat concluded on a hopeful note, expressing confidence in India’s ability to overcome past challenges. “I am sanguine we can rise to the occasion and achieve the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat as envisioned by the prime minister.”
