Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP)

CSTEP, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy is a Bengaluru (India) based Think Tank founded in 2005 by its current Chairman Dr VS Arunachalam,^[1] former Scientific Advisor to India’s Defence Minister, and erstwhile head of DRDO. Dr Arunachalam received DRDO's Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 for his outstanding contribution in the field of scientific research and technology.^[2] Its Executive Director is Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj, an energy systems expert who served in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) for 15 years^[3] and was nominated as a member of the ‘Expert Group on Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth’ of the Planning Commission (India).^[4]
CSTEP's research explores how newly emerging technologies can be used for social and economic development. It recommends options for public policy in the areas of energy and environment, infrastructure, and emergency and disaster management.^[5] In some projects and programmes it partners with private and public organisations, including government departments.
CSTEP is a registered Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.^[6]

Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy

Abbreviation	CSTEP
Type	Science and Technology Think Tank
Purpose	To enrich the nation with technology enabled policy options for equitable growth
Headquarters	Number 18, 10th Cross Mayura Street,Papanna Layout Nagashettyhalli RMV II Stage Bangalore-560094
Location	Karnataka, INDIA
Chairperson	Dr. V.S. Arunachalam
Executive Director	Dr. Anshu Bharadwaj
Staff	67
Website	www.cstep.in

Expertise

CSTEP’s website http://www.cstep.in/ claims expertise in the areas of Energy, Infrastructure, New Materials, Security Studies, Climate Studies and Governance. Profiles of its Scientists and Researchers available on the website indicate highest strength in Energy and Climate Studies.

Milestones

• Assisted India’s Planning Commission by developing a ‘systems map’ to provide a more rigorous grounding to the three scenarios presented in India’s 12th Five Year Plan^[7]
• Associated with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s, National Wind Energy Mission^[8]
• A Knowledge partner in the development of India Energy Security Scenarios 2047^[9] launched by India’s Planning Commission in February 2014.^[10]
• Worked on methodologies for target setting and implementation^[11] of the Perform, Achieve, Trade scheme of Bureau for Energy Efficiency , under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency.
• Outlined Karnataka’s roadmap for power in 2021-22 on behalf of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.^[12]
• Involved in an IBM project to create a cost benefit analysis of setting up smart grids in India.^[13]
• Developed a decision support tool^[14] to help urban local bodies and governments provide cost-effective and sustainable sanitation options for all, especially the urban poor, with funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.^[15]

Collaborative Projects

• CSTEP is one of the Indian organizations participating in SERIIUS: Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States. http://www.seriius.org/^[16] SERIIUS is one of the three Joint Clean Energy Development and Research Centers^[17] established by the government of India and the US Department of Energy.^[18] CSTEP’s role in SERIIUS includes, in partnership with other organisations:

1. Road-mapping and Policy Assessment^[19]
2. Computational and assessment tool development and implementation^[20]
3. Energy Storage Analysis and Technology Development^[21]
4. Analysis and assessment of decentralized options for India

• Heads a consortium of Indian and international organizations which are collaborating to design and develop a ‘demonstration’ Solar- Thermal and Biomass hybrid power plant to meet energy requirements in a more sustainable manner. This 5 year project (2013 – 2018) titled SCOPE BIG (Scalable CSP Optimized Power Plant Engineered with Biomass Integrated Gasification) is a part of the EU-India Cooperation on Renewable Energy.^[22]
• Member of a consortium, FOWIND led by Global Wind Energy Council to undertake studies for facilitating off-shore wind energy in India. CSTEP’s role: a pre-feasibility study of the potential for off-shore wind farms.^[23]

Funding

CSTEP receives grants from domestic and international foundations, industry trusts and governments. Grants and donations made to CSTEP are eligible for exemptions u/s 80 (G) of India’s Income Tax Act, 1961 . It is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.^[24] While some funding is project or programme specific, CSTEP receives core grants from International Development Research Centre (IDRC)^[25] and OAK Foundation.^[26]

Credentials

CSTEP ranks 25th among the Top Think Tanks in China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea and is listed among the top Science and Technology Think Tanks in the world.^[27] It is one of forty three Think Tanks in the developing world^[28] (one of seven from India) chosen to receive support from Think Tank Initiative, an initiative aimed at strengthening Think Tanks in developing countries.^[29] It is listed as a ‘go to’ institution for multi-national organizations seeking ‘targeted technical research partnerships'.^[30] David Malone, then President of International Development Research Centre, wrote in 2010, "Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) under V.S. Arunachalam has produced remarkable work on energy technology and energy security policies"^[31]

References