By IANS
New Delhi : Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal Wednesday praised the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for building scientific capabilities in the country and asked it to be competitive and alert to contemporary requirements.
Speaking at the 65th foundation day function of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Sibal said the organisation had done well to “build up the scientific and technological capability in the country and support industry in the past when the endeavour was for technological self-reliance”.
“However, in this era of global competitiveness CSIR has to be sensitive and alert to the changing needs of industry and continuously reposition its programmes and operations to become cost-effective and responsive to the market,” the minister said.
He suggested that with all the goodwill and support that CSIR enjoys today, it should “forge ahead boldly” with its programmes that apply the great prowess of science to meet the basic human needs of our people and generate research scientists in cross-disciplinary sunrise areas of science and technology.
Sibal advised the organisation to build capability and technology options in the emerging areas like biotechnology, nano-technology, new materials and IT, and partner in greater measure Indian industry, both small and big, to enable it to compete globally.
“Our future lies in innovation – not only in manufacturing but also in agriculture, services and governance as well. Our scientific, technological, demographic and entrepreneurial potential are huge.
“We now need to focus and concentrate on leveraging our strengths and opportunities to unleash India’s innovation potential,” the minister said.
Eminent scientist M.S. Swaminathan said CSIR must help bring about synergy between science and society so as to bridge the urban-rural divide.
For achieving integrated expertise in technology development, the country needs a new breed of professionals committed to the “concern for man”, the renowned scientist said.
“It would be useful if CSIR establishes a staff college where staff members ranging from young scientists to directors can get exposed to methods of combining science and technology with humanism and ethics.
“CSIR should help to bridge the technological, digital, gender and genetic divides which are now leading to the emergence of a shining urban India and a suffering rural India,” he added.
On the occasion, Sibal gave away the CSIR Technology Award 2007 for Physical Sciences including Engineering to ‘Team CLRI’ at Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, and CSIR Technology Award 2007 for Innovation to ‘Team IIP’ at Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.
The CSIR Technology Awards, given annually since 1990, aim to encourage in-house multidisciplinary team effort and external interaction for technology development, transfer, marketing and commercialisation.
Five scientists were also awarded Young Scientist’s award for their innovations.
Science Secretary T. Ramasami, who is also the acting director general of CSIR, announced the CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award 2007 for Mahindra and Mahindra Limited for its Scorpio sports utility vehicle for innovation and commercialisation.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs.1 million, a shield and a citation. It was instituted in 2003.
CSIR’s aim is to provide industrial competitiveness, social welfare, strong science and technology base for strategic sectors and advancement of fundamental knowledge. It is an autonomous body, with 37 laboratories and a scientist base of over 18,000.