Job Description:
Job Title: Associate Director- Industry Programs
Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology
Background
We live in a world of fast-paced innovation today, driven by exponential progress in science and technology (S&T) and the growth of vibrant ecosystems to commercialize research. India must aspire to be a top 3 S&T nation, where the first two places are occupied by US and China today. To do so, India needs to be at the forefront of research: the creation of new knowledge (research) and its translation to economic and social goods. This is imperative for long-term industry differentiation and competitiveness, National security, and self-reliance to attain our socio-economic goals.
While the West has traditionally dominated global S&T, many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan have made rapid progress in the past, China has dramatically scaled its S&T prowess to become #2 in the world behind USA. India's contribution is relatively dwarfed - its high impact research output is ranked 10th, with US & China being the top 2, no Indian university shows up in top 100 research
rankings, and just 1 company in worlds top 50 innovative companies. India's investment in R&D is only 0.67% of GDP with 0.23% of GDP spending by the industry and 0.44% by Government. China R&D spending is 2.4% of GDP, whereas US 3.5% ,South Korea 4.9%, Japan 3.3% and Germany 3.1%. About 67% of the R&D spend in these countries is done by industry and 33% by the government, whereas in India, industry spends only 33% and government 67% of the total R&D spend.
This highlights Indian industry lags in R&D spend. The time for India to revive its S&T agenda is now or never. If India has to gain technological independence and strategic autonomy.
FAST firmly believes India must aim a 6x increase in R&D spend with the industry spending at least 50% of the total R&D spend for the country to see significant leaps in its innovation eco system.
Way of Work
The Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (FAST India) is an independent
non-profit institution of excellence dedicated to catalyse Indias journey to a top 3 S&T Nation. We identify that the major stakeholders for S&T include the government, the research institutions and the industry. There are systemic challenges with how these actors today work, such as size of ambition, right incentives, resource allocation and efficiency. We identify these challenges, and develop and vigorously advocate policy solutions and best practices to address them. We also identify high-leverage projects that can have an outsized impact on the ecosystem, and run programs with stakeholders.
Over the past few years, FAST has engaged with various government bodies and institutions namely:
- Office of PSA (Govt of India)
- Department of Science and Technology- shaping Anusandhaan National Research Fund and
- Research Development and Innovation Funds
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
- Niti Aayog
- Capacity Building Commission of India
- Banaras Hindu University
Our key projects span
- Ease of doing research and fixing procurement for scientists
- Re-envisaging government and industry financing of research,
- Fixing institutional grant management process,
- Shaping sectoral missions,
- Simplifying government procurement etc.
FAST has conducted a state of sector report on Indian Industrial R&D benchmarking highlighting opportunities to increase R&D intensity, and patent, publications outcomes. FAST's current body of work includes understanding the R&D landscape of the pharmaceutical sector in India and highlighting opportunities to accelerate innovation through various policy interventions. FAST is leading efforts to increase industry participation in R&D, and finding pathways to improving the research translational effectiveness at our institutions. We have produced multiple succinct policy briefs for the governmental and institutional sector. We also run India's largest non-profit science festival in India called the India Science Fest, which has seen an audience of 50,000 people over the last three years. We also support and co-ordinate a Science Book Fellowship to spur public science books in India.
Leadership
FAST India is founded by Varun Aggarwal, who is a successful entrepreneur and researcher, and Ashish Dhawan, a private equity investor turned philanthropist. Varun built and sold India's largest job assessment company, Aspiring Minds and wrote a book on the science ecosystem of India. Ashish Dhawan is the chairperson of Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation, and is passionate
about promoting science in India.
FAST's advisory board is chaired by Prof. Tarun Khanna . The advisory board includes Prof. VijayRaghavan, Ramesh Mangaleswaran Saurabh Srivastava, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Dr Ramgopal Rao, Thomas Barlow, Shantanu Rastogi. FASTs advisory council includes Kris Gopalakrishnan, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Sanjay Sarma, Dr. Swaminathan Sivaram, Venkatesh Narayanamurti, Ajay Mehta, Abhishek Goel, Vijay Chandru, Samir K. Brahmachari and Gagandeep Kang.
Pre-reading
- Varun's talk on his book explaining Indias S&T ecosystem and need for change.
- Keynote Remarks and Panel Discussion at India Science Fest about why India needs to invigorate its S&T ecosystem
- Policy and best practices briefs by FAST
Responsibilities
FAST India is looking for a highly entrepreneurial leader to lead its Industry Programs Vertical at a pivotal moment in our growth.
This role will be central to advancing Indias position at the forefront of global innovation. He/ She will drive initiatives to catalyse Industry R&D spending and shape the conversation on the importance of Industry R&D to Indias economic and social progress.
The ideal candidate will be adept in building partnerships with executive presence, strong analytical skills, and a talent for turning insights into action. They will lead a team of researchers, develop high-impact initiatives with stakeholders, and build a
compelling point of view on Indias Science and Technology priorities through policy briefs, podcasts, newsletters, and public forums.
He/ She will report into the CEO- FAST, and work closely with the FAST leadership team to help expand the organisations capabilities and influence. He/ she will play a key role in shaping programs, partnerships, and the narrative that positions FAST India as the go-to institution for enhancing industry R&D in the country.
Following are the responsibilities of the candidate
- Provide Strategic Leadership: The Director Industry Programs will identify opportunities and develop actions plans and initiatives to increase R&D in industry, and support their innovation efforts
- Build and Sustain Partnerships: The Director Industry Programs will develop strong partnerships with industry R&D leaders, Industry CEOs, business and technology leaders and with industry associations.
- Industry Interface: He/She would be the primary interface with industry, industry CEOs and evangelise best practices and case studies of Industry R&D exemplars. He/she would create sectoral councils and team of experts and conduct roundtables, podcasts and panel discussions with them to understand industry perspectives that will help shape and spread FAST's
recommendations and ideas for policy interventions - Shape Science and Technology Policy changes, Sectoral Missions to accelerate Innovation: He/she will leverage work done by his/ her team and FAST's policy research teams to develop missions of national importance addressing key science and techn0logy gaps and opportunities to drive Indias S&T priorities
This is a key leadership role at FAST and has the potential to significantly influence India's future Science and Technology transformation. Working closely with FAST India's leadership, the Director Industry Programs will help expand the organisations capabilities and influence, playing a key role in shaping programs, partnerships, and the narrative that positions FAST India as the go-to institution for enhancing industry R&D in the country.
Skills and Competencies Required:
- Stakeholder Management: Ability to coordinate with various stakeholders, pull together information and structure the teams efforts in a dynamic environment, and ability to build partnerships
- Passion for S&T ecosystem and S&T policies in the country: The candidate must be passionate for accelerating Indias science and technology efforts. He/she should be able to spot gaps and opportunities in collaboration and turn them into high-impact initiatives.
- Ability to build partnerships: Proven record of forging and managing partnerships with senior leaders in companies, universities and research institutions. He/she should be comfortable leading discussions, negotiations, shaping joint programs and creating winwin models.
- Ability to build thought leadership on R&D and communicate recommendations:
Advocacy : Can build and communicate a strong point of view on why research and innovation matter to Indias economic and social progress.
Policy : Skilled at using policy briefs, op-eds, podcasts, roundtables, newsletters and panels to influence debate. - Analytical and research-driven: Has had hands-on experience in conducting deep research and turning complex, ambiguous topics into clear insights. Experienced in leading and mentoring a team of researchers, setting direction and quality standards, and translating broad research areas into actionable reports, briefs and viewpoints. He/she should be sharp at identifying trends, benchmarking best practices and turning data
into actionable insights. - Organisational leadership: Should be able to lead teams, set clear goals and nurture talent. Brings strategic thinking, resourcefulness and the ability to grow a young organisations capabilities.
- Presence and communication: Executive presence to represent FAST India credibly with government, industry and academia. Clear, persuasive communicator in both written and spoken formats.
- Personal qualities: Mission-driven, entrepreneurial mindset, high integrity and resilience in complex stakeholder environments.
Who you are:
- You are a graduate in STEM, Economics, Management or Public Policy and have a clear passion for science and technology.
- Your experience could be anywhere between 10 years to 25 years.
- Your'e an entrepreneurial leader with strong strategic and operational skills, able to set direction and deliver results through teams.
- You excel at deep research, turning complex issues into clear insights and can influence stakeholders with evidence-based views.
- You build credible and trusted relationships with senior leaders
- You're curious, adaptable and quick to learn new areas.
- You inspire and mentor teams and collaborate easily with diverse stakeholders.