PM moots public-private initiative in scientific research

Speaking at a function organised to confer the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards on 21 young scientists for their contribution to science, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh yesterday called for setting up publicly-owned and privately operated scientific laboratories to drive the innovation effort.

Dr Manmohan Singh came out in favour of private enterprises partnering government-owned science and technology institutions in their translational and transformational efforts.

He urged the scientific community to uplift the standard of living of the common man through innovative scientific and technological solutions that would help provide food, water and energy security to the people.

The prime minister called for the overhaul of the present systems to sustain the tempo of high growth rate of 9 to 10 per cent per annum. He observed that if poverty, ignorance, disease and hunger have to be overcome, and the key input in this endeavour would be innovation.

Exhorting young scientists to take on the mantle of leadership, he said that the government had set up a National Innovation Council to help evolve a road map for the future. The council would help evolve an Indian model of innovations that would go beyond research and development based systems.

In his address, minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology Prithviraj Chavan said that the awards were literally an investment in future as these would recognise young talent and encourage the recepients to forge ahead with their innovative ideas.