PM asks scientists to focus on local innovation at 106th Indian Science Congress

New Delhi: The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, on 3rd January, 2019 delivered the inaugural address at the 106th session of the Indian Science Congress.

Reflecting on the theme of the event this year – ‘Future India: Science and Technology’ – the Prime Minister said that India’s true strength  will be in connecting  its science, technology and innovation, with its people.

He recalled the great Indian scientists of the past, including Acharyas J.C. Bose, C.V. Raman, Meghnad Saha, and S.N. Bose, and said that they served the people through “minimum resources” and “maximum struggle.”

“The life and works of hundreds of Indian Scientists are a compelling testament of integration of deep fundamental insights with technology development and nation-building.  It is through our modern temples of science that India is transforming its present and working to secure its future,” the Prime Minister said.

Recalling the contribution of the former Prime Ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PM Modi said that Shastri gave us the slogan: “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,” while Atal added “Jai Vigyan” to it. He said that now the time has come to take a step further, by adding “Jai Anusandhan.”

The Prime Minister emphasized that the pursuit of science is fulfilled through the achievement of two objectives: generation of  profound or disruptive knowledge; and use of that knowledge for socio-economic good.

As we boost our discovery science ecosystem, we must also focus on innovation and start-ups, the Prime Minister said. He said that the Government has launched the Atal Innovation Mission to promote innovation among our scientists. More Technology Business Incubators have been established in the last four years than in the forty years before that, he added.

“Our Scientists must commit themselves to addressing problems of affordable healthcare, housing, clean air, water and energy, agricultural productivity and food processing. While Science is universal, technology must be local for providing solutions relevant to local needs and conditions,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister said that big data analysis, artificial intelligence, block-chain etc should be utilised in the agricultural sector, especially to help the farmers with relatively small farm-holdings.

He urged the scientists to work towards ease of living for the people. In this context, he mentioned issues such as drought management in low rainfall areas; early disaster warning systems; tackling malnutrition; tackling diseases among children such as encephalitis; clean energy; clean drinking water; and cyber security. He called for time-bound solutions through research, in these areas.

The Prime Minister mentioned major achievements of Indian science in 2018, including:

• Production of aviation grade biofuel

• Divya Nayan – a machine for visually impaired

• Inexpensive devices for diagnosis of cervical cancer, TB and dengue

• A real-time landslide warning system in the Sikkim-Darjeeling region

He said that strong pathways to commercialization, are needed to leverage   our Research & Development achievements, through industrial products.

The Prime Minister called for research, which is a fusion of Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Science and Technology.

Noting that our strengths in research and development are built on the backbone of our national laboratories, central universities, IITs, IISC, TIFR and IISERs, the Prime Minister said that a strong research ecosystem must be developed in the State Universities and Colleges, as well.

He announced that the Union Government has approved a National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems with an investment of over Rs. 3600 crore. The Mission will cover in a seamless way, R&D, Technology Development, Human resources and Skills, Innovation, Start-up Ecosystem and strong Industry and International Collaborations, he added.

Speaking on achievements in the space sector, the Prime Minister mentioned the success of Cartosat 2 and other satellites. He said preparations are underway for sending three Indians into space, through the Gaganyaan in 2022. He expressed happiness that research has begun to find an effective solution for sickle cell anaemia.

He said that the ‘Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council’ will help formulate appropriate Science and Technology interventions, catalyze collaborations across stakeholder Ministries and implement multi-stakeholder policy initiatives.

We have launched the ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellows’ Scheme under which, a thousand bright minds from the best Institutions in the country will be offered direct admission in Ph.D. Programs in IITs and IISc, the Prime Minister said. The scheme will catalyze quality research and address shortage of faculty in the premier Educational Institutions, he added.