The corporate strategy adopted by Indian industry affects the R&D in agricultural biotechnology research in India. Nevertheless, the intricate social and funding ties between policy makers, industry personnel and media representatives complicate the
networking between government, industry and academia. The critical analysis of government, academia and industry networking in agricultural biotechnology will add to the policymaking process of GM crops in India. Most of the forms of networking between actors do not occur through formal meetings but rather through social networking and informal meetings where opinions can be shared more freely and more easily than formal meetings with government officials.
The present study argues that firms in agricultural biotechnology in India are able to enjoy the institutional influence and are responsible for forming direct connections with the key elements in policymaking in agricultural biotechnology. It is argued by a majority of scientists that industry has links everywhere especially with key government officials involved in policy decisions regarding GM crops. In this context, it is important to address the issue of the influence of networking in terms of links between particular associations. There are multiple formal institutional channels which can be used to form networking between academia and government at different levels.
Table 3.10: Association between Scientific Collaboration of Public-Public Organizations and Performance Level
Public-Public Percentage Sample (n)
Performance Level X2 Test Moderate High
N % N %
I. Government- Government
5.6 9 7 77.8 2 22.2
0.13 NS (p=0.988) II. Government-
Academic
51.4 57 46 80.7 11 19.3
III. Academic- Academic
a) National 46.6 59 47 79.7 12 20.3
b) International 22.4 36 28 77.8 8 22.2
NS: Non-significant X2 (0.05, 3df) = 7.815
Collaboration between government, academia and industry has been measured
facilities, personnel expertise, research and training, any formal or informal research collaboration in both India and outside in various research institutions, universities, MNCs, private industry and so on. There has been little information on informal collaborative networking among scientists. Scientists are engaged in informal collaboration for sharing laboratory facilities, research discussions, etc.
The analysis focuses on Indian agricultural biotechnology research system. In the present study, there has been 5.6 per cent of collaboration between government and government organizations with respect to number of projects undertaken by individual scientists in different organizations. A total of 51.4 per cent of the scientists are engaged in government-academia collaboration. Also, we classified collaboration between academia-academia as national and international collaboration. There has been 46.6 per cent of collaboration between universities within country. In the present study collaboration between national universities and international universities is 22.4 per cent.
Let us describe the various heads between public-public collaboration. It can be collaboration between government-government organization, government-academia organization, and academia-academia. Under collaboration between academia-academia, it can be divided between national and international category. Let us discuss association between scientific collaboration of public-public type and its performance level. When we look at collaboration between government and government organization and its performance level, 22.2 per cent have high performance level. However, 19.3 per cent have high performance when we analyse the collaborative networking between government and academic institutions. Further, when we consider the collaborative networking between academic and academic institutions at international and national levels, the performance level are 20.3 per cent and 22.2 per cent respectively. The Chi- square test for the present study is non-significant.
Table 3.11: Association between Scientific Collaboration of Public-Private and Performance Level
Public-private Sample
(n)
Performance Level X2 Test
Percentage Moderate High
N % N %
I. Government- Industry
6.1 6 4 66.7 2 33.3
0.41 NS (p=0.939) II. Academic-
Industry
44.3 43 27 62.8 16 37.2
III. Government - Academic-Industry
a) National 31.0 30 19 63.3 11 36.7
b) International 18.6 18 10 55.6 8 44.4
NS: Non-significant X2 (0.05, 3df) = 7.815
Let us examine the collaboration between public and private organizations. This can be studied by examining the networking between government and industry, academia and industry, and government, academia and industry at both national and international levels. Around 6.1 per cent of the scientists are engaged in collaborative networking with government and industry. A total of 44.3 per cent of the scientists are engaged in collaborative networking with academia and industry. As scientists from universities collaborate with industry for the purpose of commercialization of their research results, transfer of technology, field test, etc. triple helix model can be located within networking between government, academia and industry and this type of networking is useful while considering the complexities and requirement of present day research in agricultural biotechnology. Looking at government, academia and industry networking within India, 31 per cent of the scientists are working in collaboration with government, academia and industry. A total of 18.6 per cent of the scientists are engaged in collaborative networking between government, academia and industry at international level.
Let us discuss association between scientific collaboration of public-private type
industry and its performance level, 33.3 per cent have high performance level. However, 37.2 per cent have high performance when we analyse the collaborative networking between academic and industry. Further, when we consider the collaborative networking between government, academia and industry at international and national levels, the performance levels are 36.7 and 44.4 per cent respectively. The Chi-square test for the present study is non-significant.
These figures suggest that academia-industry, university-national research laboratories, national research laboratories-industry collaboration is more dominant in agricultural research in India. Though some initiatives by the Department of Biotechnology of the government of India have been undertaken to bring in public and private research organizations on particular projects but growth of such type of partnership is limited to few research institutions and universities. For example, C- CAMP, Bengaluru under the Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) initiative is trying to bring about private R&D and startups in close interaction with the universities where initial development grant is provided by the government and equipment facilities, mentoring facilities and infrastructure facilities are provided by the C-CAMP.
Table 3.12: Association between Scientific Collaboration of Private-Private and Performance Level
Private-private Percentage Sample (n)
Performance Level X2 Test Moderate High
N % N %
I. Industry- Industry
0.04 NS (p=0.850)
a) National 62.5 5 3 60.0 2 40.0
b) International 37.5 3 2 66.7 1 33.3
NS: Non-significant X2 (0.05, 1df) = 3.841
Let us examine the collaboration between private and private organizations. The collaboration between industries is not the focus of the present study and its impact on
of industries are collaborating with the industry within the country and 37.5 per cent of the scientists working within industry are collaborating with industry outside the country.
Let us examine the association between scientific collaboration of private-private and its performance level. Around 40.3 per cent have high performance when we compare collaboration between industries within the country. Similarly, 33.3 per cent have high performance level when we compare the association between scientific collaboration of private and private institutions and its performance level within industry at international level. The Chi-square test for the present study is non-significant.