Govt's 100 days: A new science ministry, a new innovation push

KATHMANDU: One of the most notable institutional reforms during the first 100 days of the new government has been the creation of a separate Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, a move aimed at giving scientific research and innovation greater policy focus.

The government expects the ministry to strengthen research, innovation and technological development, areas that have long suffered from unclear policies, inadequate funding and the migration of skilled professionals abroad.

The decision stems from the government's 100-point governance reform plan approved by the first Cabinet led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah. The plan called for reducing the number of ministries to cut administrative costs while restructuring responsibilities. Although the original proposal envisioned 17 ministries, the government retained 18 by creating the new science ministry.

The ministry is headed by Mahabir Pun, a scientist, social innovator and independent lawmaker who had long campaigned for a dedicated science ministry and for allocating at least one percent of the country's capital budget to science and technology.

After assuming office on June 10, Pun said he was starting "from zero" and pledged to build the ministry into an institution capable of driving research based economic development. He has repeatedly stressed the need to promote innovation across federal, provincial and local governments while encouraging citizens to adopt a culture of research and entrepreneurship.

As one of his first decisions, Pun initiated drafting a Science, Technology and Innovation Bill and ordered an organizational and management survey to establish the ministry's administrative structure. He is also working to bring research and innovation programs currently scattered across multiple ministries under a more coordinated framework.

Pun has urged provincial and local governments to allocate at least one percent of their capital budgets to science and innovation so they can qualify for federal grants in the sector. However, officials say many subnational governments have been unable to meet that target because of limited financial resources.

The new ministry has been assigned responsibility for drafting policies, laws and standards related to science, technology and innovation. It will oversee scientific research, space science, astronomy, technology statistics, surveys and standard setting.

Its mandate also includes nuclear technology, radioactive materials, biotechnology, chemical management, ozone layer studies, solar radiation monitoring, scientific equipment calibration and nuclear energy regulation. The ministry will also manage orphan radioactive sources and oversee policies governing nuclear materials.

Secretary Pramila Devi Shakya Bajracharya said the ministry is currently focused on completing its organizational survey, developing its website, recruiting essential staff and implementing government policies and budget programs. She acknowledged that setting up a new ministry takes time but said sector specific programs will gradually become the priority.

The ministry will supervise institutions including the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), the National Forensic Science Academy and the Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum. It will also promote innovation, industrial modernization, technology development and international cooperation in science and technology.

Previously, science and technology responsibilities shifted between the ministries of education and environment, preventing the sector from developing a stable institutional identity.

Nepal joins countries such as Brazil and Malaysia, which have dedicated ministries for science, technology and innovation. Similar ministries also exist in China, India, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, while Thailand combines education, science, research and innovation under one ministry.

The budget for the upcoming fiscal year allocates Rs 4 billion for science, technology and innovation, along with Rs 500 million to establish the Nepal Enterprise Facility. The platform aims to support startups and small and medium enterprises by providing incubation services, financing opportunities and stronger links within the national entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The budget also includes startup support for 1,000 young entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture and livestock businesses, while allocating funds for research, innovation and entrepreneurship programs designed to create opportunities for young scientists inside Nepal.

Pun said the ministry has nearly completed its organizational setup and has begun drafting key legislation. He expects five major laws to be prepared within the next five months, including the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, the Innovation and Startup Promotion Act, the Advanced Industrial Technology Promotion Act, the Chemical Substance Management Act and amendments to the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology Act. A separate bill to establish and operate the National Forensic Science Laboratory is already under parliamentary review.

NAST spokesperson and senior scientist Dr Ram Chandra Paudel welcomed the creation of the ministry, saying autonomous research institutions should be involved from the planning stage rather than only during implementation.

"Science is not a routine government job. It requires an academic and research driven culture. If the government provides sufficient responsibility and resources, institutions like NAST are ready to contribute," he said.

Nepal's Constitution commits the state to promoting scientific research, technological development and the protection of scientists and skilled professionals. The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2019 also set the goal of using science and innovation to support sustainable development, higher productivity and national prosperity.

That policy was prepared by a nine-member task force led by scientist Prof Dinesh Raj Bhuju, following consultations with experts from Nepal and abroad. Nepal previously established a separate Ministry of Science and Technology in 1996, adopted a National Science and Technology Policy in 2004 and introduced a National Nuclear Policy in 2015.

The national policy identifies industrial productivity, commercial agriculture, sustainable infrastructure, green energy, mineral resources, climate change, disaster risk reduction, governance, cybersecurity and national security as priority areas for scientific research.

Nepal has more than 120 science and technology institutions and an estimated 90,000 professionals in the sector. Every year, thousands of graduates in science, engineering, information technology and other technical fields enter the workforce, but many leave the country because of limited research opportunities.

The government hopes the new ministry will help reverse that trend by increasing research investment, strengthening innovation centers and creating opportunities for young scientists and entrepreneurs. If successful, officials believe Nepal can gradually turn its long-standing brain drain into brain gain.