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Role of S&T in the Developing World
Examine the impact of Science & Technology on developing nations — technology transfer, IPR barriers, R&D funding (GERD), leapfrogging, and sustainable indigenous innovation.
1. S&T Funding (GERD) & Innovation Gap
Developing nations face a structural challenge in funding scientific research, relying heavily on government spending rather than private sector R&D.
Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD): Most developing nations spend less than 1% of their GDP on R&D (e.g., India ~0.65%, Brazil ~1.2%). Developed nations like South Korea and the US spend 3% to 4.8%.Funding Source Mismatch: In developed nations, the private sector contributes over 70% of R&D funding. In developing nations, the government remains the primary funder (~60% in India), leading to bureaucratic delays and lower commercialization rates.Brain Drain: The migration of highly trained scientific talent to developed economies due to better research infrastructure and higher salaries, causing a severe human capital loss.
2. Technology Transfer & IPR Barriers (TRIPS)
The global intellectual property regime can act as a double-edged sword, incentivizing global innovation while locking out poorer nations from vital technologies.
North-South Technology Transfer: The flow of advanced technology from developed industrial nations (Global North) to developing ones (Global South). Often constrained by high licensing costs and restrictive terms.TRIPS Agreement Constraints: The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights mandates strict patent enforcement, which can increase the cost of essential seeds and pharmaceuticals in developing nations.Compulsory Licensing & Evergreening: Developing nations utilize flexibilities like Compulsory Licensing (producing patented life-saving drugs locally during emergencies) and legal clauses preventing patent evergreening (such as Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act) to safeguard public interest.
Indicator
Developed Nations (Global North)
Developing Nations (Global South)
GERD as % of GDP High (2.5% to 4.8%)
Low (Typically < 1%)
Primary R&D Funder Private Sector (70%+)
Public Sector/Government (60%+)
IPR Strategy Focus Strict enforcement, evergreening, high licensing fees
Flexibilities, generic manufacturing, compulsory licensing
Innovation Model Frontier R&D (breakthrough technologies)
Adaptive R&D (reverse engineering, appropriate tech)
3. Technology Leapfrogging & Appropriate Tech
Developing nations can accelerate development by adopting non-linear paths of technological acquisition.
Technology Leapfrogging: Bypassing intermediate stages of technology to adopt the latest frontier systems (e.g., skipping landline telephony straight to mobile broadband, skipping physical branch banking to mobile UPI).Appropriate/Intermediate Technology: S&T systems that are decentralized, low-cost, resource-efficient, and easily maintainable using local skills (e.g., gravity-fed water purifiers, solar-powered farm pumps).
Technology Leapfrogging Pathway:
Milestones in S&T Policy for Developing Countries
1973 (E.F. Schumacher) — Appropriate Technology Movement : Schumacher's book 'Small is Beautiful' advocated for intermediate, decentralized, and labor-intensive S&T suited for developing economies instead of capital-heavy Western tech.1995 — TRIPS Agreement (WTO) : Introduced global intellectual property rights rules, raising concerns in developing countries regarding access to affordable medicines and seeds.2015 — Technology Facilitation Mechanism (UN) : Established under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to support S&T access and clean energy technology transfer to developing nations for achieving SDGs.Post-2016 (India Stack) — Digital DPI Leapfrogging : India's UPI and digital identity systems demonstrated that developing countries can leapfrog traditional financial infrastructure using open-source S&T.
Memory Aids
Mnemonic 1: S&T Development Challenges : Key S&T bottlenecks: **F**unding deficit (low GERD) $\rightarrow$ **I**PR bottlenecks (TRIPS) $\rightarrow$ **B**rain drain $\rightarrow$ **S**kill mismatch.Mnemonic 2: Appropriate Technology Attributes : Appropriate S&T must be: **L**ocalized resource use $\rightarrow$ **E**cologically sustainable $\rightarrow$ **A**ffordable $\rightarrow$ **P**eople-centric (labor-intensive).
Common Exam Traps
Trap 1: Evergreening of Patents: TRIPS mandates 20-year patents. Developing countries (e.g., India under Section 3(d) of Patents Act) block **evergreening** (securing minor variations of existing drugs to extend patents). Beware of assumptions that all countries permit patent extensions for minor chemical modifications.
Trap 2: Technology Leapfrogging: Leapfrogging doesn't mean skipping scientific research. It means bypassing physical developmental infrastructure (e.g., landline phone lines) to jump straight to advanced technologies (e.g., mobile networks, digital payment DPI).
Trap 3: GERD/GDP Ratio: While India is a major space and software power, its Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) sits low at ~0.65% of GDP, compared to 2.5-4.8% in developed nations. Do not assume high absolute S&T output matches a high R&D-to-GDP investment ratio.
Trap 4: Compulsory Licensing: Under TRIPS Doha Declaration, developing countries have the right to issue **Compulsory Licenses** to local generic firms during national health emergencies. This is a legal option, not an intellectual property violation.
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विभिन्न नीतियों, विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी के मील के पत्थरों और विकासशील देशों में इनके विकास चरणों का विवरण देखने के लिए नीचे दिए गए कालक्रम कार्ड पर क्लिक करें।
अगला: अभ्यास क्षेत्र
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