Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday called upon young scientists to dream big and not despair. His message comes at a time when there is a strong feeling that India has not been able to make a global impact in the field of science.

Addressing the 70th foundation day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Prime Minister said conventional scientific disciplines and approaches were proving unequal to deal with complex developmental challenges.

“We have not been able to make an impact on a world scale commensurate with our large scientific manpower pool,” he added.

The Prime Minister lauded CSIR’s achievements over 70 years of its existence, but asked it not to rest on its laurels. “As a nation, we have not succeeded in mobilising enough private investment into science to raise our investment in scientific research to two per cent of GDP,” he said.

The Prime Minister said scientists needed to recognise that excellence had not percolated across all research and academic institutions. He asked CSIR to take up national leadership in science, engineering and technology.

Singh noted that when India became a victim of technology denial, CSIR laboratories created advanced products and technologies, such as India’s first super computer, radiation-shielding glasses and components for aerospace and satellites, emerging as a credible partner for the strategic sector.

The Council also catapulted India as the top generic drug producer, he said.

“After India embraced globalisation, introduced economic reforms and joined the World Trade Organisation, the CSIR quickly emerged as the flag bearer of the Intellectual Property movement in our country and became the single largest holder of US and European patents,” he said.

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