Calling for greater investment in research from the government and private sector, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu urged scientists at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) to pursue innovation in science.
Speaking at platinum jubilee celebrations of IICT, Mr. Naidu recounted India’s contributions to the world of science. He said while India continued to progress scientifically, there was a greater need for enhanced investment to fuel the progress. He called upon the industry to support the government in funding research.
“I am glad to know that CSIR is ranked ninth among public research institutions in the world. The only thing that is required now is to create an ecosystem to thrive. Apart from the government spent on research, the private sector must come forward,” he said.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, who also spoke on the occasion, recounted that the laboratory used to analyse coal mined in Singareni Collieries. In 1956, the lab was renamed Regional Research Laboratory-Hyderabad, after the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) takeover. In 1989, it was rechristened IICT.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardan said CSIR was ranked 75th among both public and private research institutions of the world, besides being ranked ninth among public research institutions alone.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan called on scientists to address health and food security. He said more investment was needed to address these issues.
Mr. Naidu launched IICT’s redesigned logo and souvenir that captures the lab’s history and journey since its foundation.
Deputy Chief Minister Md. Mahmood Ali, IICT Director S. Chandrasekhar and Chief Scientist N.V. Satyanarayana also addressed the gathering.
