Budding scientists and young researchers should be prepared for upcoming revolutions to develop cutting-edge technologies by employing artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, said Shekhar C Mande, Director General, CSIR, and Secretary, here on Thursday.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the four-day CSIR-IICT Platinum Jubliee International Conference on ‘Biotechnological Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development (BioSD-2018)’ being organised by CSIR-Indian Institute for Chemical Technology in association with Biotech Research Society, India (BRSI) and International Bioprocessing Association.
Over 600 experts and delegates from various countries are meeting to brainstorm on the frontier areas of environmental biotechnology, medical biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, food and agricultural biotechnology and bio-energy to share the current stock of knowledge.
Souvenir released
Dr. Mande, who released a souvenir on the occasion, acknowledged the accomplishments of the CSIR in the areas of IT, space healthcare and agriculture for national benefits.
He pointed out that biotech industries in India were nurtured under the leadership of CSIR and lauded the contribution of CSIR-IICT and CSIR-CCMB in particular for developing the bio-tech ecosystem.
CSIR-IICT Director S. Chandrasekhar deliberated on the outstanding research endeavours of the institute and its innumerable research activities. He stressed upon the contribution of scientists for human happiness and wished that India becomes the acme of world happiness index with technological advancement.
Drug discovery
The institute’s contribution towards energy sector, pesticide industry, green revolution and healthcare sector are widely acknowledged by the industry. Several of the findings in generic drug discovery including Zidovudine for HIV and many more were initiated in CSIR-IICT, he recalled.
President, BRSI T.P. Singh, BioSD-2018 chair Ashok Pandey, IICT’s N.V. Satyanarayana and S. Venkat Mohan, also spoke.
