Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the 104th Indian Science Congress in the temple town of Tirupathi on Tuesday. In his speech, he said that India would be among the top three countries in the world in science and technology by 2030. He also said that the country was on course to become one of the most attractive destinations for the best talent in the world.
Over 18,000 delegates, including nine Nobel Laureates, scientists and policy makers from all over the world, are participating in the five-day annual event. The theme of this year’s meet is “Science and Technology for national development.”
India currently ranks sixth in the world with respect to peer-reviewed scientific publications and is growing at a rate of about 14 percent against a world average growth rate of about four percent. “I am sure that our scientists will further meet the challenges of enhanced quality of basic research, its technology translation and its societal connect,” he told the gathering of scientists at the Srinivasa Auditorium in Sri Venkateswara University.
Modi made a strong pitch for scientific research and innovation to ensure inclusive growth, saying, “Science must meet the rising aspirations of people. Our infrastructure and social welfare ministries must make use of science," he said, adding that his government was committed to supporting different streams of scientific knowledge ranging from fundamental science to applied science with emphasis on innovations.
Modi also hoped that India's best scientific institutions would strengthen basic research, in line with global practices.
“Tomorrow’s experts will come from investments we make today in our people and infrastructure,” he added calling for a greater coordination among the research institutions, academia, industry and the ministries.
“Translating the basic knowledge into innovations,start-ups and industry will help us achieve inclusive and sustainable growth,” he said.
He said that science teams had contributed strongly to the strategic vision of the country and how the ongoing space programme had placed India in the top space-faring nations. “While we excel globally, we also need to develop local solutions that fit our unique context.”
“There is a need to develop appropriate micro-industry models for rural areas that use local resources and skills to meet local needs and generate local enterprise and employment.”
“Our ministries, our scientists, R&D institutions, industries, start-ups, universities and IITs, all should work together seamlessly. In particular, our infrastructure and socio-economic ministries must make appropriate use of science and technology,” he said.
The Prime Minister emphasised the need to address the rapid global rise of Cyber-Physical Systems saying that, “This has the potential to pose unprecedented challenges and stresses to our demographic dividend. But we can turn it into a huge opportunity by research, training and skilling in robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, big data analysis, deep learning, quantum communication and Internet-of-Things.”
Modi said there was a need to develop an inter-ministerial national mission in the Cyber-Physical Systems to secure the future by creation of basic R&D infrastructure, manpower and skills and went on to add that on the lines of corporate social responsibility, the concept of scientific social responsibility needs to be inculcated to connect the leading institutions to all stakeholders, including schools and colleges.
On encouraging innovation and new ideas, he exhorted the National Laboratories to connect with schools and colleges to develop appropriate training programmes. Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan and Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu were among those present at the inaugural session.
