The Hindu Business Line : Call to link scientific research and economic development

Hyderabad, Oct. 11 An integrated approach is needed to link scientific research and economic development, said Dr P. Rama Rao, Distinguished Professor at Indian Space Research Organisation.

Delivering the 46th Foundation Day address at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) here on Thursday, Dr Rao said there was no design (until recently) to draw up a long-term plan for scientific research to support planned economic development.

‘No coordination’

“For example, there are many programmes with huge budget for rural development. But the application of scientific research to fulfil rural development goals is rather debatable. The economic ministries and scientific agencies do not connect with each other,” he opined.

There should be a viable mechanism to connect Department of Science and Technology with other ministries. “We tend to operate in isolation. There is a need to establish linkages,” he observed.

Citing a recent United Nations’ report, Dr Rao, a former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), said a small country such as Finland was able to integrate scientific research with many Government departments and industry.

Similarly, integration of knowledge resources is also vital, he said. “Most worrying is the field of energy. During the last three years, China could add 50,000 MW of thermal power per annum and we stand nowhere. There should be more focus on clean coal technologies, solar energy, among others,” he pointed out.

On education front, there should be immediate measures to popularise research programmes, he added.

Co-research mooted

Mr V.K. Sibal, Director General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), said scientists should interact with industry and co-research agencies frequently.

Dr V.P. Dimri, Director of NGRI, said the institute was now in the top one per cent of research publications globally. The institute had bagged first-ever large-scale project from Atomic Energy Commission pertaining to development of concealed uranium, he said.

A seismic observatory was inaugurated by Mr Sibal and Dr Rao to mark the occasion.

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