Ministry of Science says R&D project selection was merit-based and transparent

New Delhi – In a Friday briefing, the Ministry of Science and Technology clarified that the selection of companies for financial support under the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme was carried out on a strictly merit‑based basis.

The ministry highlighted that the Technology Development Board (TDB) employs a robust assessment mechanism, adheres to tight conflict‑of‑interest directives and follows a qualification‑centric approach. A comprehensive conflict‑of‑interest policy has been operational for years and, to date, no party has lodged a complaint or raised an objection.

The board’s stringent process is also validated by independent external evaluations. From the 22 projects approved in the first tranche, 15 were independently vetted by expert committees created by the Ministry of Education.

Those 15 projects later represented India at the India Innovate event in Nice, France, underscoring their technological calibre. Before the inaugural Investment Committee convened, TDB prepared detailed pre‑investment guidelines and standard operating procedures that clearly define conflict scenarios. Any member encountering a potential conflict must disclose it openly and withdraw from any related discussion or decision‑making. All funding approvals were therefore based solely on technical competence and national relevance.