I just read an article written over a year ago, which suggested that an Indian innovation ecology was still a long way off, and may perhaps not manifest at all. The author articulated many different barriers to a culture of innovation:
They [critics] point to India’s lack of a robust innovation ecosystem — an optimal mix of inventors, entrepreneurs, mentors and investors underpinned by a supportive financial system, friendly government policies and conducive cultural attitudes. Tellingly, Nadathur S. Raghavan, a founder of Infosys and now also an investor in start-ups, recently said that India is held back by a financial system that is reluctant to invest in unproven ideas, an education system that emphasizes rote learning over problem solving and a culture that looks down on failure and unconventional career choices.
Analysts also note that India’s corporate spending on research and development is significantly lagging. In fact, the rate and scope of outsourcing-driven success may itself be hampering R&D. “The ease with which a company’s core business grows can mask the need to invest in innovation,” said Scott D. Anthony, managing director of Innosight, a consulting firm in Watertown, Mass.
Neither has the Indian government traditionally done much to encourage innovation. Although it has recently begun to show some interest in reforms that would favor entrepreneurs, it still engages in protectionism, often stymies new enterprise — especially in manufacturing — with thickets of red tape, and has been known to eschew foreign investment. Up to now, “India has embraced foreign direct investment far less than China has,” said Harvard Business School Professor Tarun Khanna.
Some of these factors have begun to change, but the challenges still remain, as we discussed at Design Public last year in Bangalore. Can the long standing problems and social attitudes be overcome? Your thoughts welcome.
Read the rest of the article here.
Hat tip: @ekta_ohri
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Interesting article and all valid points, but they are all aligned with the single manifestation of the concept of innovation, limited to Science.
How about innovations in
1) cuisine: Tandoori Chicken, Upma, ….
2) negotiating chaos: optimal path through the Indian traffic will negate any optimal “Traveling Salesman” solution !!!
3) Rural solutions: Clay Tawa, evaporator water cooler “Matka”, Panchayat, http://www.innovationsofindia.com/, http://www.indg.in/rural-energy/rural-energy/rural-innovations/, …..
and so on.
My perception is that unfortunately in India the biggest hindrance to innovation is the mindset of the opinionated few, who instead of looking at the positives look at the negatives and tend to decry anything which does not conform to their tastes and concepts. This creates an environment which is conformist rather than liberal, intimidating to those who want to dare.
We need to have an environment which will encourage free thinking and respect for others ideas, the rest will eventually fall in place.
Not everything new created will be perfect, but it is a start and it needs to be nurtured with constructive criticism else it will wither.
Hi Nicco,
I agree with you that the greatest barriers to innovation lies in a sort of attitude problem, as it were. But I disagree with you that the barriers to innovation outlined in the blogpost are limited to scientific innovations. In addition, the kind of societal barrier that you’re talking about, which the greatest hindrance to innovation, isn’t something that is limited to a small but powerful minority. Rather, such cultural attitudes are long-standing and reinforced over hundreds of years through reiterating them to multiple generations.
That said, I definitely do agree that we need to be much more open-minded and encouraging of new ideas at a social level. which is something that can only happen at the community level, especially through transforming our education systems.