Education and research: Value chain, from upstream to the customer
Schools, universities, training providers and public or corporate labs building skills
Value chain, from upstream to the customer
Criticality to the chain: 5 · Chokepoint 4 · Critical 3 · Important 2 · Supporting 1 · Commodity service Stage 1 Policy, funding and standardsSet curricula and standards, fund public schools and universities, license institutions and award competitive research grants.1,3
Why chokepoint: One ministry and regulator set per country, with no substitute; governments supply most school funding and a large share of research money. Technologies Education management information systems (UDISE+) Grant management systems Digital public infrastructure (DIKSHA, APAAR ID) Depends on Energy Bld Energy in buildings Industries Software and IT servicesExamples: Ministry of Education (India), University Grants Commission, Anusandhan National Research Foundation, US National Science FoundationRun national entrance and board exams and accredit institutions and programmes, setting the credentials employers and universities trust.3
Why critical: Usually one recognised body per exam or credential; a leak or failure delays admissions for millions, and rivals take years to win recognition. Technologies Computer-based testing Item banks and psychometrics Proctoring and anti-cheating systems Accreditation frameworks Depends on Energy Dist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Software and IT servicesPaper and packagingExamples: National Testing Agency, CBSE, NAAC, ETSBuild, finance and run school and university buildings, laboratories and student residences, often under lease or public-private partnership.1
Why supporting: Construction and housing supply is competitive, though new campuses take years to plan and build. Technologies Modular construction Building management systems Energy-efficient design Laboratory fit-out Depends on Commodities Cem CementSt SteelTm Timber Chemicals Pnt Paints and coatings Energy Bld Energy in buildingsPV Solar photovoltaics Industries Real estateConstruction and infrastructureFurnitureExamples: Unite Students, Stanza Living, Larsen & ToubroWrite, print and license textbooks, workbooks and digital courseware for schools, colleges and test preparation.1
Why supporting: State publishers and many private firms compete; schools can switch titles at the next academic year. Technologies Print and digital publishing Adaptive learning content Video lessons Assessment banks Depends on Commodities Tm Timber Chemicals Pig Organic pigmentsCB Carbon black Energy Dist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Paper and packagingMedia and entertainmentExamples: NCERT, Pearson, S. Chand Group, Oxford University PressRun peer review, publish journals and sell subscriptions and citation databases to universities and labs.6
Why critical: Five publishers (led by Elsevier, Springer and Wiley) published about 53% of natural and medical science papers in 2013, and careers depend on their journals, so libraries cannot easily drop them. Technologies Peer-review platforms Citation indexes Open-access publishing Research integrity screening Depends on Energy DC Data centres Industries Software and IT servicesMedia and entertainmentExamples: Elsevier (RELX), Springer Nature, Wiley, ClarivateMake microscopes, spectrometers, sequencers, NMR and MRI scanners, and supply reagents, gases and consumables to labs.2
Why critical: Top instruments come from a few firms, mostly in the US, Europe and Japan, and helium-cooled magnets depend on scarce helium. Technologies Mass spectrometry Gene sequencing Superconducting NMR magnets Electron microscopy Depends on Commodities He HeliumNb NiobiumREE Rare earthsPt Platinum Chemicals Rgt Reagents and high-purity lab chemicalsN2 Nitrogen gasAr Argon Energy Dist Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors Industries Machinery and equipmentSemiconductorsComputers and electronicsExamples: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Agilent, Bruker, Merck (Sigma-Aldrich)Supply learning management systems, online courses, classroom devices and student information systems.1
Why supporting: A crowded market after the post-pandemic shake-out; institutions can change platforms between terms. Technologies Learning management systems Online video learning AI tutors Student information systems Depends on Energy DC Data centres Industries Software and IT servicesComputers and electronicsTelecommunicationsExamples: Google for Education, Instructure (Canvas), PhysicsWallah, upGradTeach children from pre-primary to higher secondary, funded by governments or fees.3,7
Why supporting: Many schools serve each area, but quality varies widely; enrolment in grades 1 to 12 slipped another 0.25% to 23.23 crore in 2025-26 and only 47.2% of students were retained to secondary level in 2024-25. Technologies Smart classrooms Digital textbooks (DIKSHA) Attendance and assessment apps Mid-day meal kitchens Depends on Commodities Ri RiceWh Wheat Energy Bld Energy in buildingsLED Lighting and displaysPV Solar photovoltaics Industries Real estatePaper and packagingFurnitureFood and beverage processingExamples: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Delhi Public School Society, GEMS EducationTeach degree students and train researchers, earning from fees, government grants and research contracts.1,2
Why important: Many institutions exist, but top-ranked ones are scarce and take decades to build reputation and faculty. Technologies Learning management systems Research computing clusters Library databases Online degree platforms Depends on Commodities He Helium Chemicals Rgt Reagents and high-purity lab chemicals Energy Bld Energy in buildingsHP Heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigerationDC Data centres Industries Real estateSoftware and IT servicesMedia and entertainmentExamples: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, University of Delhi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of OxfordPrepare students for entrance exams and teach job skills through centres and online courses, paid by fees.1
Why commodity service: Thousands of providers compete and students switch freely. Technologies Live online classes Mock-test platforms Recorded video courses Skill certification Depends on Energy Bld Energy in buildings Industries Real estateMedia and entertainmentSoftware and IT servicesExamples: Allen Career Institute, Aakash Educational Services, PhysicsWallah, NIITDo basic and mission research in national labs and shared facilities such as accelerators, telescopes and supercomputers.2
Why critical: Large facilities are one of a kind per country or region and take a decade to build, so access is rationed. Technologies Supercomputers Particle accelerators and synchrotrons Cleanrooms Cryogenic systems Depends on Commodities He HeliumNb NiobiumCu Copper Chemicals Rgt Reagents and high-purity lab chemicalsN2 Nitrogen gas Energy HVAC AC transmissionDC Data centres Industries Machinery and equipmentConstruction and infrastructureSoftware and IT servicesExamples: CSIR, Department of Atomic Energy labs (BARC), Max Planck Society, CERNDo applied research and development for products, or sell lab research as a service to pharma, chemical and technology firms.2,5
Why supporting: Business finances about 78% of R&D in the US and China, and many CROs compete for contracts; in India private industry funded about 45% of R&D in 2023-24 on DST data (government about 48%). Technologies High-throughput screening Simulation and AI-driven discovery Pilot plants Clinical and analytical labs Depends on Commodities He Helium Chemicals Rgt Reagents and high-purity lab chemicalsCDMO Custom synthesis (CDMO) Energy DC Data centresBld Energy in buildings Industries Real estateSoftware and IT servicesExamples: Syngene International, Alphabet (Google DeepMind), Samsung Electronics, Tata Consultancy Services ResearchPatent and license university research, incubate start-ups, and examine and grant intellectual-property rights.2
Why supporting: Many incubators compete, though patent offices are national monopolies with long backlogs. Technologies Patent search and examination systems Incubator and accelerator programmes Licensing agreements Depends on Energy Bld Energy in buildings Industries Finance: banking, insurance, marketsReal estateSoftware and IT servicesExamples: IIT Madras Research Park, CIIE.CO (IIM Ahmedabad), Office of the Controller General of Patents (India), Cambridge Enterprise