Time to open the gates: Union Minister calls for science-industry synergy
Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the time has come for Indian Science to break silos and integrate with stakeholders including industry, investors, and the public.
During the Startup Conclave, jointly organised by CSIR-IICT, CSIR-CCMB, and CSIR-NGRI, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised that India is currently experiencing a significant moment in science and innovation.
Speaking to a diverse audience of scientists, entrepreneurs, students, and policymakers, he praised the collaborative effort of the three Hyderabad-based CSIR labs, highlighting that this 'integrated scene of science and governance under one roof' aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for collaborative and inclusive innovation.
Dr Singh made a compelling case for changing the outdated perception of government labs as 'ghost-haunted places where frogs are dissected.' He recounted how misinformation and a lack of public engagement had led villagers to misunderstand the work conducted at CSIR labs.
He stated, 'Science should not be confined behind gates. If your focus is on agriculture, invite the farmers in. Let them see what you're doing.'
He stressed the importance of involving industry early and deeply in research and innovation, referencing the success of CSIR's Aroma Mission, which has enabled over 3,000 youth—many of whom are non-graduates—to become successful agri-entrepreneurs with minimum annual earnings of Rs 60 lakh. 'That's real transformation—a blend of technology, livelihood, and dignity,' he asserted. Reflecting on the rapid growth of India's biotechnology sector, Dr. Singh noted that in 2014, there were only 50 biotech startups, compared to over 10,000 today. 'It's not just about numbers. We've transitioned from a valuation of $10 billion to nearly $170 billion in biotech. This isn't just growth; it's a revolution,' he stated, highlighting government initiatives such as Bio-E3 and the National Quantum Mission.
Dr Singh expressed concern over the internal compartmentalisation within CSIR and even within his own Ministry. To address this, he has begun holding monthly joint meetings involving all science departments, including Atomic Energy, Space, and Biotechnology, to ensure that overlapping initiatives are coordinated rather than duplicated.
'How can we compete globally if we don't even know what our neighboring lab is doing?' he questioned. He also announced plans to open up the nuclear sector, noting that a new approach has replaced the previous secrecy surrounding scientific endeavours.
'When Google can peek into our lives, what's the point of denying access to potential collaborators in the name of confidentiality?' he asked.
Dr Singh advocated for realistic, demand-driven innovation, urging, 'Let the industry do the mapping. Let them invest from day one. If they invest Rs 20, they'll ensure your startup doesn't fail.' He encouraged researchers to view industry not just as customers but as co-investors. In a candid moment, he acknowledged that while the government has significantly increased funding—CSIR and DSIR budgets have risen over 230 per cent since 2014—true sustainability depends on self-sufficiency and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
'You can start a startup, but sustaining it is the challenge. Social and economic security must match ambition,' he remarked.
Dr Singh highlighted that Hyderabad, with its unique combination of scientific heritage and technological prowess, is ideally positioned to lead India's science-led development agenda. 'This is not just about Hyderabad or CSIR; it's about India stepping out of the shadows and taking charge of the global innovation narrative,' he declared.
The event took place at a pivotal moment when India's Global Innovation Index has surged from 81 to 39 in less than a decade, marking a significant step in the government's mission to democratise science, empower youth, and establish India as a global innovation leader.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
NASA captures crash site of Japanese ‘Resilience' lunar lander on the Moon
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has taken a clear image showing the crash site of Japan's Resilience moon lander, built by Tokyo-based company ispace. The lander tried to touch down on June 5, in the Mare Frigoris region of the Moon but lost contact during descent. The image captured by NASA shows a dark spot with a light ring around it, likely caused by the hard impact and moon dust due to the disturbance by the Japanese lander. This is ispace's second failed attempt to land on the Moon. The Resilience spacecraft was trying to land safely in Mare Frigoris, an area of the Moon that has been formed by ancient lava flows. But soon after starting its landing, ispace lost contact with the lander. Later, it was confirmed that the lander had crashed to the surface of the Moon. The image captured by NASA's LRO shows a dark spot (called regolith) where the spacecraft hit the Moon and disturbed its surface. The light ring around the crash site likely came from small particles spread out by the impact. Scientist Mark Robinson confirmed that the crash happened about 2.4 kilometres away from the planned landing spot. A small micro-rover named Tenacious, made by ispace's European team, was also lost in the crash. It also carried a small piece of artwork called 'Moonhouse' created by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. The artwork was a tiny red-and-white model of a Swedish-style house, meant to represent human creativity and the idea of living on the Moon. This artwork was part of a symbolic mission that blended space exploration with art. Sadly, the rover crashed during its mission, and Moonhouse now lies amidst the wreckage. This was ispace's second failed Moon mission. Its first lander also crashed in April 2023. Despite these failures, ispace is still one of the few private companies working to explore the Moon. The crash shows how hard space travel is, especially on the Moon, where everything must work perfectly. While the crash is a setback, NASA's images of the site provide useful data to ispace to help understand what went wrong with its lunar lander. As both private companies and national space agencies plan more Moon missions, such information could be potentially important for learning, improving, and being prepared for future landings on the lunar surface.
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Why Axiom-4 mission keeps getting delayed: Timeline of setbacks, new launch date
US space agency NASA recently announced the delay of the Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) again due to operational concerns. Initially scheduled to launch on June 22, NASA opted to delay the mission yet again. The mission's SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and Dragon spacecraft, are still on their assigned launchpad, Launch Complex 39A, at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. NASA still hopes to have a new launch date in the next few days. The crew of Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kamu, are set to remain in quarantine in Florida, in case a launch date is finalised. The mission is slated to be India, Hungary, and Poland's first government-sponsored flight in 40 years, and the three nations' second human spaceflight mission in history. The crew is expected to spend up to 14 days docked to the International Space Station (ISS) and carry out various scientific experiments. For India and Shubanshu Shukla, this mission would be the first time in 40 years that an Indian has been to space (after Rakesh Sharma's nearly eight-day voyage aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984). It would also make him the first Indian to step foot in the ISS, and the first member of the Gaganyaan team to go to space. Here is a look at the delays that have stalled the mission launch and reasons why. The mission was scheduled to launch on May 29, but was delayed to June 8 due to 'observations in an electrical harness in the Crew Dragon Module' (as per ISRO) The Falcon 9 rocket was underprepared for launch, and was subsequently delayed to the next day. Due to unfavourable weather, the launch was delayed by a day again. An oxygen leak in the engine was detected, alongside an issue in one of the engine actuators. ISRO anticipated a swift resolution to the issue. The launch was once again delayed by a day. While on-ground readings were favourable, NASA announced work with the Russian Space Agency. They announced they were evaluating a 'new pressure signature', giving indications of a potential leak in the back section of the ISS Zvezda, one of Russia's modules in the ISS. A further delay in launch was also announced. Following discussions involving teams from ISRO, Poland, Hungary, consultations between Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX, and evaluations of factors such as weather and crew health, June 22 was announced as launch day. Two days before the launch date, NASA announced a further delay. 'The space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module.' NASA said in a press release dated June 19. However, NASA hopes to finalise a new launch date in the coming days. (This article has been curated by Purv Ashar, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
India Today
36 minutes ago
- India Today
Shashi Tharoor's praise for PM Modi; Jagan Mohan Reddy booked
1:27 The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic location connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, faces potential closure. This choke point for global trade is critical for oil-exporting nations in West Asia, with 20 percent of global oil and major LNG exports passing through. Iran's possible Gulf disruption plan includes mining the strait and deploying naval mines to disrupt tanker traffic, potentially spiking oil prices. The Indian government has stated there is no need for concern regarding repercussions.
