'Centre for raising R&D spending to 2 pc of GDP in 12th Plan'

The Centre is planning to raise the spending on research and development (R&D) up to two per cent of GDP during the current 12th Five Year Plan, Union Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy said today.
He said it was gratifying to note that the Indian industry is coming forward to contribute in a big way for this purpose.
"The government is motivating the private sector to invest in R&D by the way of various schemes and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to see that the research (gets) translated into products," the minister said.
Reddy was speaking at the 'Curtain Raiser' event marking 70 years celebrations of CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) here.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) 2013 unveiled by the Prime Minister earlier this year places a great emphasis on faster, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Highlighting the thoughts of social reformer Raja Rammohan Roy on science, Reddy stressed on spreading scientific temper and promoting philosophical outlook based on science.

The benefits of science must reach the common people, he said.
Appreciating the research conducted at the IICT, he said the prime minister was generous to provide resources for scientific research.
The government would provide adequate resources for science and research projects, he assured.
Reddy inaugurated the Meteorological Tower of Climate Change on Vector Control Programme and the Cancer Therapeutic Research Laboratory and also laid the foundation stone of Centre for Fluorochemicals on the occasion.