India will be among Top 3 by 2030: PM

Tirupati, Jan 3 (INN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 104th session of The Indian Science Congress in the panoramic campus of Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati on Tuesday.

Praising the Indian Science Congress Association for choosing an appropriate theme 'Science & Technology for National Development' for this year's session, the Prime Minister said that the nation would always be grateful to the scientists who have worked tirelessly to empower the society by their vision, labour and leadership.

"The speed and scale of changes we encounter today are unprecedented. How are we going to respond to these challenges that we do not even know could arise? It is a deep-rooted curiosity-driven scientific tradition which allows quick adaptation to new realities. Tomorrow's experts will come from investments we make today in our people and infrastructure. My government is committed to supporting different streams of scientific knowledge; ranging from fundamental science to applied science with emphasis on innovations," he said.

Narendra Modi said that some of these important challenges are in the key sectors of clean water and energy, food, environment, climate, security, and healthcare. "We equally need to keep an eye on the rise of disruptive technologies and be prepared to leverage them for growth. We need to clearly assess the challenges and opportunities for our technology readiness and competitiveness. I have been told that the Technology Vision 2035 document released in last year's Science Congress, is now developing into a detailed roadmap for twelve key technology sectors. Further, NITI Aayog is evolving a holistic science and technology vision for the country," he said.

The Prime Minister said one important area that needs to be addressed is the rapid global rise of Cyber-Physical Systems. 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, he said.

Modi stressed on the need to develop and exploit these technologies in services and manufacturing sectors; in agriculture, water, energy and traffic management; health, environment, infrastructure and Geo Information Systems; security; financial systems and in combating crime. He also emphasised on need to develop an Inter-Ministerial National Mission in the Cyber-Physical Systems to secure our future by creation of basic R&D infrastructure, manpower and skills.

"The oceans that surround the Indian peninsula have over thirteen hundred of our islands. They also give us a seven and a half thousand kilometre coastline and 2.4 million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone. They contain enormous opportunities in energy, food, medicine and a host of other natural resources. The ocean economy should be a significant dimension of our sustainable future," he said adding that the Ministry of Earth Sciences is working to launch a Deep Ocean Mission to explore, understand and harness this resource in a responsible way. This could be a transformative step for the prosperity and security of the nation, he added.

The Prime Minister said that the country's best science and technology institutions should further strengthen their basic research in line with leading global standards. Translating this basic knowledge into innovations, start-ups and industry will help us achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. "SCOPUS database indicates that India now ranks sixth in the world with respect to scientific publications, growing at a rate of about fourteen percent as against the 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.

"By 2030 India will be among the top three countries in science and technology and will be among the most attractive destinations for the best talent in the world. The wheels we set in motion today will achieve this goal," Modi said.

"Science must meet the rising aspirations of our people. India fully appreciates the strong role science and technology plays in meeting the societal needs. We must address the problems of urban-rural divide and work for inclusive development, economic growth and employment generation. To enable this, there is a need for a new overarching structure that will coordinate with all the relevant stakeholders," he said.

The Prime Minister said that India's ability to mount and execute large, transformational national missions requires effective partnerships that integrate with a large stakeholder base. The effectiveness of these missions can be ensured only by getting out of our deep rooted silos, and adopting a collaborative approach, which is essential to address our multifarious development challenges rapidly and effectively. 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. "Our Institutions could consider inviting outstanding scientists from abroad including NRIs for long term research associations. We should involve foreign and NRI PhD students in post-doctoral research in our projects," he said.

The Prime Minister said that another empowering factor for scientific delivery was the Ease of Doing Science. If we want science to deliver, we must not constrain it. "Building a strong Science and Technology infrastructure that is accessible to academia, start-ups, industry and R&D labs is a priority of the government. We need to address the problems of ease of access, maintenance, redundancy and duplication of expensive equipments in our Scientific Institutions. The desirability of establishing professionally managed, large regional centers in PPP mode housing high value scientific equipment should be examined," he said.

"On the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility, the concept of Scientific Social Responsibility needs to be inculcated to connect our leading institutions to all stakeholders, including schools and colleges. We must create an environment for sharing of ideas and resources. he brightest and best in every corner of India should have the opportunity to excel in science. This will ensure that our youth get high-end training exposure to the best of science and technology to make them job-ready in a competitive world. To this end, I would exhort the National Laboratories to connect with schools and colleges to develop appropriate training programs. This will also help with the effective use and maintenance of our vast scientific and technological infrastructure," Narendra Modi said.

The Prime Minister advocated inter-linking of Laboratories, Research Institutions and Universities in each major city region to function on a hub and spoke model. The hubs will share major infrastructure, drive our national science missions and be the engines that link discovery to application. College teachers with background in research can be connected to the neighbouring universities and R&D institutions. Outreach activities from the institutions of eminence to schools, colleges and polytechnics will activate the latent Science and Technology manpower from the educational institutions in your neighbourhoods.

The Prime Minister also paid tributes to eminent scientist Dr. M.G.K. Menon who passed away in November 2016.

Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Y. S. Chowdary, General President of the Indian Science Congress Association Prof D. Narayana Rao, Vice Chancellor of Sri Venkateswara University Prof A. Damodaram and other dignitaries were also present.