PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH AT CSIR SOCIETY
MEETING
Prime Minister Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee chaired the meeting of CSIR Society here
today. The meeting was attended by Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister
of Human Resource Development and senior officers of the CSIR.
Following is the text of the Prime
Minister’s speech on the occasion:-
"I would like to
begin by congratulating CSIR for the excellent progress it has
made during its diamond jubilee year. I recall that during last
year’s Society meeting, I had said three things:
- I would like to see CSIR become
a real technology powerhouse;
- It should continue to make a greater
contribution to nation building.
- It should earn a higher reputation
globally.
I am happy to see
that CSIR is moving in the right direction to make that happen.
One sign of the global
recognition is that advanced countries recognize the novelty of
Indian innovations by granting them patent rights in their own
country. CSIR today is getting that global recognition due to
its aggressive intellectual property policy.
At the last meeting
of the Society, I had congratulated CSIR on its securing the second
ranking as per the Patent Cooperation Treaty. I had also exhorted
it to strive to achieve the number one position soon.
I am happy to note
that CSIR has done India proud by attaining the number one
position in 2002. CSIR has been granted 145 US patents, almost
40% of the total patents granted to India.
My hearty congratulations!
Today I wish to make
two points. This year CSIR shares the number one ranking with
a Korean multinational firm. Next year, I want CSIR to be the
undisputed first ranker.
Secondly, I would
like patent filing to become a part of the industrial culture
in our country. I am rather disappointed to see that very few
Indian firms file patents. The Indian industry needs to be strong
in patenting in order to win the competitive battles in the emerging
knowledge-based economy.
I would like CSIR
to work actively with the Indian industry to strengthen our country’s
IPR profile.
It is becoming more
and more clear that India can achieve a leadership position in
technology only by fostering a strong public-private partnership.
The New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Programme that
we launched in 2000 was a step in that direction.
I am happy to hear
that more than 50 private sector companies and 120 public institutions
have been working together in a ‘Team India’ fashion to create
India’s largest knowledge network. Last month, the Cabinet has
formally approved this programme for the 10th Plan
with an investment from the Government of Rs. 205 crore.
We have offered very
soft loan conditions to the private sector. I hope our industry
will take full advantage of this initiative by the Government.
We have also gone
ahead in other specific areas, where public-private partnership
can make a difference. My friends in the pharma industry had been
a little impatient with the Government for a delay in implementing
the Mashelkar Committee recommendations on R & D in the pharma
sector.
I am happy to say
today that we have included in this year’s Budget an allocation
of Rs. 150 crore for the Department of Science and Technology
to mount this programme. I hope this will help our pharma industry
in sustaining its competitive advantage.
Indeed, we are going
beyond merely providing funding. The pharma industry has been
accorded the same benefits and facilities afforded to the IT industry.
CSIR, DBT and DST
have also dovetailed their schemes and competencies to give a
technological edge to our pharma industry. We are thus going all
out to promote and support the pharma industry to emerge as a
global player.
The Finance Minister
this year has assigned to the CSIR the task of developing such
networking in another area of great importance to us -- namely
energy, especially solar, wind and hydrogen-based energy by making
a special allocation of Rs.20 crore.
India’s energy security
will crucially depend upon such initiatives. I would like to see
the CSIR leverage its seed allocation of Rs.20 crore with other
resources to take up daring technological innovations.
All of us are concerned
about the declining interest in science as a career amongst our
youth. I have been urging that some effective schemes be drawn
to nurture young persons to take up R&D as a career.
must thank Dr. Murli
Manohar Joshi for directing CSIR to evolve and mount a path-setting
Diamond Jubilee Research Interns Awards Scheme that seeks to tap
and develop local scientific talent for R & D.
We must continue
to implement more such initiatives.
CSIR must reach out
to the young. I understand that each CSIR laboratory is seeking
to ‘adopt’ a school and a college in its catchment area to bring
in the much-needed ‘excellence and excitement’ in science. I would
strongly urge CSIR to take advantage of its nationwide presence
from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to fire the imagination of the young.
I have noted with
appreciation CSIR’s initiatives to kindle the spirit of inventiveness
amongst our school children through the ‘Young Innovators’ Awards’.
With changing demography in the world, India has a unique advantage
of being a relatively young nation. If the spirit of innovation
is stirred among the youth, then this Indian Yuvashakti will undoubtedly
make an enormous contribution to nation building.
As CSIR fans out
to diverse sections of our society. I would urge it to use its
vantage position in the emerging India knowledge society to extend
a helping hand to the other sectors of the Indian economy to face
the challenges ahead.
I would especially
point to the small-scale sector of the industry which is passing
through a difficult phase and which may become even more difficult
in the coming months.
Finally, I want to
express my happiness that after a gap of 20 years, we have launched
the Science and Technology Policy – 2003 at the Indian Science
Congress in Bangalore. The Scientific Policy Resolution of 1958
and the Technology Policy Statement of 1983 were the two policy
pronouncements that inspired and guided the nation’s programmes
and initiatives in S&T.
The new policy integrates
both Science and Technology in a symbiotic and holistic manner.
This policy heralds us in the future realm of science and technology
with our feet firmly rooted in our rich culture and heritage.
Of course, formulating
a policy is not enough. It needs to be quickly and carefully implemented.
We must speedily move forward to put together necessary instruments
and mechanisms for its implementation.
I conclude by extending
my best wishes to CSIR for a productive and rewarding year ahead.
Thank you."
