The Indian Industry in private sector has so far not given adequate importance to Research and Development (R&D). As a result, the share of private sector in total R&D expenditure is hardly 20 per cent. Calling upon the industry in private sector on the occasion of inauguration of 2nd Global Industrial R&D Conclave the Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Prithviraj Chavan said that private sector must rise to the occasion in R&D expenditure and take full advantage of incentives announced by the Government in the current budget. Giving a background of development made by India in building infrastructure he said we have to go a long way, though India has made progress in every field in general and in education in particular and we have been able to increase our literacy rate from 18 per cent (in 1947) to 70 per cent now. On this occasion the Minister released two reports (i) Water : A Framework for Encouraging R&D and (ii) Renewable Energy : A Framework for Encouraging R&D.

Shri Chavan said that India and Czech Republic have a long tradition of mutual cooperation and this must continue. He complimented Czech Republic, CII, CSIR and Ministry of MSME for jointly organizing the 2nd Global Industrial R&D Conclave coinciding with National Technology Day. In order to achieve 9-10 per cent growth rate on sustained basis, India will have to address challenges of water, food, climate and security, he added.

He called upon Indian industry to engage Czech industry, academia and other research oriented institutions in our R&D activities. Signifying the Government priority on R&D, Shri Chavan said that Government have declared the present decade as ‘decade of innovation’ and aims to achieve the target of R&D expenditure from present 1 per cent to 2 per cent of our GDP. To address energy issues Government have recently lauched Jawaharlal Nehru Technology Mission on Solar Energy, the Minister said.

Lastly, he called upon the Indian industry to create more job avenues for Ph.D holders because the present number of Ph.Ds in technology based research is hardly 50.

Czech Deputy Minister to Trade and Industry and Head of Czech Delegation Mr. Lubos Vanek, Secretary DSIR, Ambassador of India to Czech Republic and dignitaries from Government and Indian industry were also present on the occasion.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : May 11, 2010