Before 2017 India will emerge as science colossus

Updated on: Friday, January 06, 2012

India the second most populous nation in the world will emerge as a major player in the world of science before the end of 2017, asserts Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the 99th Indian Science Congress at Bhubaneswar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, said , "Our First Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also said and I quote “The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science”.

World has come to realize that science, technology and innovation would impact the future societies. Nations invest significantly into science. Exponential advances in science and technology have triggered intensive social transformations.

At the time of Independence, India had inherited a shattered economy. The life expectancy at birth was less than 30. Pandit

Jawaharlal Nehru, revealed faith in scientific research for solving problems of the poor and the country. He invested into R&D establishments when India was poor. Today, infant mortality rate has gone down to almost half of what it was sixty years ago; average life expectancy has more than doubled. To me, these are returns from science to people for the investments made then.

We solved the problem of food shortage through green revolution and milk shortage through white revolution. Science and our scientists have delivered solutions whenever challenged by national problems.

We look at tomorrow from where we stand today. We notice that world is turning into a large and connected village. Globalization has moved science, technology and innovation and dynamics of knowledge production to the center stage of development. Social contract of science is much more evident today than ever before.

We need big ideas in science, new methods in governance of R&D systems, right investment of resources, aspiration to emerge as world leader in science and dedication to serve the people of India through the tools of technology and affordable innovations.

Our science and technology policy was enunciated in 2003. We need a new and well enunciated Science, Technology and Innovation policy. It should promote an innovation ecosystem that addresses the national priority for inclusive and sustained growth. My Ministry will dedicate to the Nation such a well balanced policy soon. To make sensible use of the bio-technological tools and techniques for the benefit of our people, we are establishing a transparent and evidence-based regulatory system.

We must present paradigm shift in our mindsets of developing “policy for science to developing “science policy for people”.

My ministries are working hard to enable the Indian science, technology and innovation system deliver what the nation and people of India expect from us. This is period of positive developments in Indian science.

Let me connect to the theme of “The role our women in inclusive Innovation”. Presently 60% of all graduates across Asia, America and Europe are women. They are well educated. Indian women are hardwired to not only understand but also apply economic principles even better than men. Harnessing the power of talented women “will pave the way for future of generations”.

To conclude, I wish to say that given the unprecedented support from the Honble Prime Minister and the Planning Commission to Science, Technology and Innovation in formulating the 12th Five Year Plan, my ministry will assure the country that India will emerge as a major player in the science world before the end of 2017.”

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