Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on January 3 said that 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, the PM said while inaugurating the 104th session of the Indian Science Congress at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.
” I am delighted to begin the New Year with distinguished scientists from home and abroad in the holy city of Tirupati.I am happy to inaugurate this 104th session of The Indian Science Congress on the panoramic campus of Sri Venkateswara University. And I appreciate the Indian Science Congress Association for choosing an appropriate theme `Science & Technology for National Development’ for this year’s session,” PM Modi said. Some of these important challenges are in the key sectors of clean water, energy, food, environment, climate, security and healthcare, he said.
“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,” the PM said and added that 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 stress 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.
“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,” PM Modi 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, he added. He exhorted the National Laboratories to connect with schools and colleges to develop appropriate training programmes, according to a PIB release.
“Science and technology is a key factor in the Startup India Programme launched in January 2016. Two other strong initiatives are Atal Innovation Mission and NIDHI – the National Initiative for Development and Harnessing Innovations. These programmes focus on building an innovation driven enterprise ecosystem. Further, Public-Private partnerships with CII, FICCI and high technology private companies are being pursued to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.” PM Modi said.