Vajpayee For Autonomy To Govt R & D Labs

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday said government's research laboratories should be made autonomous "knowledge corporations", which could become "world-leaders in their own right." Vajpayee was speaking at the Shanti Swroop Bhatnagar awards ceremony _ the highest national recognition in science.

Outlining a nine-point agenda to overhaul the country's science establishment, the Prime Minister said government laboratories should forge partnerships with the industry to develop internationally competitive technologies. Vajpayee said the country could not afford to neglect research and development (R&D) in industry. Investment by the Indian industry in research was minuscule compared with international standards. He said an "innovation movement" should be started in India.

The Prime Minister said more than a dearth of funds progress was being inhibited by the bureaucratisation of institutions. He said science should be made central to all planning and operations in the country. Administrators and government officials should be facilitators, and not masters of scientists, he said.

He said there was a need to make scientific research more application based, which would make research efforts more focused and help in achieving a commercial or a social objective. There are many "problem areas" in sectors like energy and health care that need technological solutions.

Information technology is an important part of the national science agenda, he said, adding the government has set up a task force to prepare a draft comprehensive National Informatics Policy. Software technologists should create products that would serve as a productivity multiplier within India and also command a high value in the world market, he said.

Vajpayee said science must face globalisation with courage and make it work to the national advantage. India needs to file more patents and move quickly towards their commercialisation, he added.

He said while commercialisation of technology was important, Indian scientists should not lose focus of basic research.