Policy

We convert ideas into policy proposals to take to government stakeholders. As part of our advocacy efforts we explain, educate and inform government policymakers and other policy bodies that a vibrant software product industry is vital to India’s future. To aid policymaking, we also provide unbiased data about the produce industry through our Product Industry Monitor reports. We strive to have a symbiotic relationship with trade organizations, including NASSCOM and see them leading the charge of converting our policy prescriptions into reality.

PRINCIPLES GUIDING OUR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

We do not expect the government to guide the market toward planned structural change. Instead of favouring an “optimal” degree of openness and “optimal” degree of outside competition, we subscribe to “maximum” openness and “perfect” competition.

There are 7 key principles that guide our recommendations:

1. Our belief is that the primary focus of policy should be to provide social, legal and economic infrastructure so that private enterprise can flourish.

2. We believe that Software Product Industry (SPI) start-up communities are networks —glorious in all their messiness and chaos. Yet they aren’t simply organic phenomena. They need careful nurturing and support.

3. We believe that market interventions should be simple, transparent and subject to rules rather than official discretion.

4. We believe that the Government should not create a software ecosystem for a specific product. It should restrict its role to being a market maker or to making public platforms (e.g. UID, GST) that have open access.

5. We believe that the co-evolution of institutions will be critical to success given the path-dependent nature of SPI evolution. This co-evolution of the institution can only be achieved within the framework of public-private governance of these institutions.

6. We believe that urgency is important. There are favourable international market conditions right now and quick action on policy and institutional fronts can recreate the East Asian miracle for India in SPI.

7. We believe that Indian SPI must have a high degree of cluster integration with other global technology clusters.

PRODUCT INDUSTRY MONITOR REPORTS

Until now, there has only been anecdotal data available for SPI. To address this issue, in partnership with Prof. Sharique Hasan of Stanford GSB, we have put in place an industry metrics program. This will yield a stream of Product Industry Monitor reports. These will offer policymakers credible industry data for effective policymaking. The first Product Industry Monitor report was released in February 2014.

POLICY ADVOCACY

Policy advocacy is an act of reaching out to government, regulators and public institutions to seek their support for policy recommendations made by iSPIRT to meet its objectives.

iSPIRT is leading following important Policy advocacy initiatives at present

• Stay-in-India checklists
• National Policy on Software Products

POLICY HACKS

PolicyHacks is the second prong of policy pillar, aimed at better understanding and use of policy by Software product industry, especially the young entrepreneurs or startups. Policy Hacks will carry out:

• Research and analysis in evolving public policy for Software product industry
• Demystify (simplify) existing policy issues to entrepreneurs