Bengaluru, November 12, 2025 – Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy today underscored the critical role of research in propelling India and the world towards a brighter future. Speaking at the Infosys Prize 2025 announcement, Murthy emphasized the necessity of bolstering India's national and institutional commitment to research, positioning it as the singular path to global betterment.

Murthy urged India to cultivate an ambitious, merit-based, and competitive research environment. This ecosystem, he stated, should provide a nurturing and rewarding space for scientists, engineers, economists, mathematicians, and humanists.

Drawing inspiration from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Murthy described research as "the broadening of the mind". He elaborated that it is through research that humanity can unravel nature's mysteries, perceive the unseen, and devise solutions to seemingly impossible problems. "The need of the day for our country is to strengthen our national and institutional focus on research for a better India and for a better world," he asserted.

Murthy referenced former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt's letter to Dr. Vannevar Bush, who headed the Office of Scientific Research and Development. This correspondence led to the pivotal report, "Science – The Endless Frontier," and the subsequent establishment of the National Science Foundation in the US. He noted that this report paved the way for America's leadership in scientific and engineering research, space exploration, consistent research funding, and the success of its institutions, ultimately contributing to the US becoming a superpower.

Quoting a diverse array of thinkers, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Richard Feynman, Alan Turing, Thomas Alva Edison, and Jennifer Doudna, Murthy highlighted curiosity, imagination, and persistence as the cornerstones of scientific advancement.