NSTMIS undertakes broadly two types of research activities:
As an outcome of above in-house research, NSTMIS brings out publications in the area of S&T management.
Sponsored ResearchWhile some of the valuable basic data on input resources into S&T activities were processed in -house, it was felt necessary to involve other interested individuals/organisations to take up studies in the sponsored project mode in order to convert this activity into a very comprehensive and cohesive plan programme to make available Science and Technology indicators. Keeping this in view, the divisional activities were further strengthened during Seventh Five Year Plan (1985-90) by enlarging the scope and including the following :
To carry out the above activities the following broad areas were identified for taking up resource studies in the sponsored mode under the NSTMIS scheme viz, S&T manpower, S&T investment, S&T infrastructure, S&T databases, R&D output, R&D productivity/efficiency.
The Plan-wise growth of financial allocation under the NSTMIS Scheme have been:| 7th Five Year Plan (1985-90) | Rs. 2.5 million |
| 8th Five Year Plan (1992-97) | Rs. 30.0 million |
| 9th Five Year Plan (1997- 2002) | Rs. 50.0 million |
| 10th Five Year Plan (2002-2007) | Rs. 72.5 million |
| 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) | Rs. 100.0 million |
| 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) | Rs. 150.0 million |
So far, more than 200 projects on the various facets of S&T have been sponsored in the last three decades to various organisations establishments spread across the country and the results of over 150 completed projects have already been published in the form of reports.
LINKAGESNSTMIS maintains a close liaison with UNESCO, NSF, OECD, etc. for matters relating to S&T statistics and indicators. NSTMIS officers are taken as resource persons by UNESCO for the various workshops conducted by them on standardisation of concepts and terminologies used in S&T statistics. NSTMIS expertise has also been shared with other developing nations like China and Trinidad and Tobago. Apart from this, NSTMIS continually interacts with various national organisations like NITI Aayog erstwhile Planning Commission , University Grants Commission,Central Statistical Organisation, Confederation of Indian Industries and other scientific organisations for exchange of information and expertise related to Science Statistics and Indicators.