Entrepreneurs through innovation can become solution providers to challenges: President Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that through innovation Indian entrepreneurs can become solution providers to many of the challenges the country is facing today.

"Their success will determine our economic future and our growth trajectory. Our academic and scientific institutions, industry and entrepreneurs must collaborate to ensure that scientific research can move from labs to our industry, agricultural fields, incubation centres, and start-ups," he said.

The President was speaking at the Foundation Day celebrations of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

He said that the scientific community, academic institutions, and industry are aware of the uncertainty and risks which are inherent to scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Urging them to embrace that uncertainty and take that calculated risk, President Kovind said that there lies the possibility of developing truly transformative technologies and innovations that can help fulfill the goals as a nation, as humanity, and as a planet.

"We have set ourselves a goal of becoming a 5-trillion dollar economy by 2025. We are committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goals. We also wish to play our role in addressing global concerns such as climate change," he said.

To a great extent, he said that India's success in meeting the challenges would depend on "our ability" to find creative solutions based on scientific research.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the true test of scientific research lies in its ability to help society accelerate socio-economic development in various areas of human life such as health and hygiene, sanitation, education, and agriculture.

"In the long run, this ability depends on the extent to which the culture of scientific research and innovation permeates our society, institutions, and enterprises," he said.

The President said that science and technology is one of the key levers to achieve our national goals and to address the larger concerns confronting humanity today.