Speakers at an India-U.K. workshop on Innovation and Technology Commercialisation held here on Friday stressed the need to reorient research institutes and equip them to take up socially relevant projects.
Inaugurating the workshop organised by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in association with the British Deputy High Commission, Chennai and the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson said most of the research institutes were not in consonance with the development needs of the State and the country. “None of the institutes in Kerala have so far been able to come up with a workable solution to the problem of waste accumulation and despite tax breaks, there has been no major initiative for plastic recycling.”
4,200 trees
Mr. Thomson said research institutions had failed to respond to a frantic plea for technical assistance to transplant at least some of the 4,200 trees that would have to be cut for widening the national highway bypass in Thiruvananthapuram. Innovation, he said, should find solutions to basic problems. Executive Vice President, KSCSTE, Suresh Das highlighted the need to bridge the gap between academic research and societal needs. Chairman, Kerala State Innovation Council, L. Radhakrishnan said the education system in the state had failed to emphasize the importance of innovation. The council, he said, was launching 1000 innovation clubs in schools and colleges in Kerala this academic year. Sarah Mooney, Head, Science and Innovation Network, British High Commission, New Delhi and Prosperity Advisor Sam Kumar also addressed the inaugural function.
The workshop focussed on facilitating collaboration between research institutions and industries in Kerala and the UK in the key sectors of health care, clean energy and food processing.
Experts participated in sessions on promoting innovation, business incubation facilities and technology transfer.
‘Plea for tech help to replant trees not heeded’
Better links with institutes in Kerala, UK mooted
