India: PM Calls for Greater Alignment of Science with Inclusive Development

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressing the 99th Annual Session

of the Indian Science Congress, at Bhubaneswar, in Odisha on January 03, 2012.

Photo © PIB

BHUBANESWAR, India (NNN-UNI) -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for greater alignment of the science and technology sector with the inclusive development needs of the nation.

Inaugurating the 99th Indian Science Congress here, Dr Singh said, "As we head into the 12th plan there are some broad objectives we must try to achieve in the science and technology sector."

He said, "We must ensure a major increase in investment in Research and Development including the industry and strategic sector, creation of new innovation eco system and expand the basic science infrastructure.

The Prime Minister said as far as the resources are concerned, the fraction of the GDP spent on the R&D in India has been too low and stagnant, adding, "We must aim to increase the total R&D depending as a percentage of the GDP to 2 per cent by the end of 12th plan period from the current level of 0.9 per cent."

This could be only achieved if Industry, which contributes about one third of the total R&D expenditure today, increases its contribution; Dr Singh said and hoped that the public sector undertakings especially in the energy sector should play a major role in this expansion.

The Prime Minister said at present public funded R&D was skewed in favour of the fundamental rather than the applied research. It was easier to attract industrial funds into applied research areas and a set of principle should be formulated to push such funding and to drive the public private partnership in the R&D.--NNN-UNI