Excelsior Correspondent
JORHAT (ASSAM), May 12 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today laid stress on building “sustainable” Start-ups with indigenous innovation.
Speaking at the inaugural event of “Iconic 75 Industry Connect (‘i’ Connect)” at Jorhat, Assam, the Minister said, the innovative Start-ups by the young entrepreneurs have to shoulder responsibility for the next 25 years of glorious journey, when we celebrate 100 years of India’s Independence as a frontline nation in the world.
He said, the aim of industry connect is to explore globally benchmarked technologies and products for making the country self-sustaining and self-generating. He said, while our research establishments are well equipped and competent to develop the world class technologies and products in laboratories, there is a gap in terms of taking these to market and ultimately to the society for the benefit of common women and men of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh urged the industry to have an equal stake in R&D through meaningful investment for making and taking world class products from laboratories to market. He also underlined the need for Brand building of the products to carve a niche in Indian and world markets.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Government-Industry Connect, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the iconic 75 Industry Connect (‘i’-connect) events are aimed at forging partnership with industry in 10 thematic /focus areas. He said, this is the consolidate efforts of DSIR/CSIR, DBT, DST, MoES and other scientific departments of the Government of India to reach out to industry. Coming together of several scientific departments for the cause of science is a phenomenon seldom seen before and the “Team Sprit” is the key mantra of the Government, the Minister added.
Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the role of scientific organizations like CSIR, ISRO, DAE, DRDO, ICAR on one hand and DBT, DST and MoES on the other, to name a few, in India’s progressive journey and at the same added that the industry knows the intricacies of process of taking the technologies from labs to land. He said, in view of this, the forging of partnerships with industry is of paramount importance and called for further strengthening of ties between academia and industry to develop cutting edge technologies and products and deliver them in shortest possible time frame to realise the vision of Prime Minister for “Samarth” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
The Minister informed that each ‘i’-Connect event would include a variety of programs such as mega industry conferences, plenary talks, technical exhibitions, B2B meetings, round table discussions as well as breakout sessions which would enable promotion and fostering of business(es).
In his concluding remarks, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this unique series of 75 Industry Connect (‘i’-connect) events put up by the Ministries of Science & Technology & Earth Sciences to showcase the achievements in diverse S&T areas is part of several iconic events in line with the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations of the Govt of India.
The Minister said, as outcome of these events, he will look forward to receiving the White Papers for thematic areas for collaborative research and technology development. This should have definitive targets and well thought plan / roadmap for achieving the same with strict timelines.
Dr V. K. Saraswat, Member NITI Aayog in his address said that in the last 7-8 years, India has jumped from 85 to 47th rank in Global Innovation Index and that has created a major cultural shift in the start-ups culture in the country. He said, we can further leapfrog in the Innovation Index by bringing more and more industries into the innovation eco-system.
Dr Jitendra Singh also released CSIR Compendium of Technologies for Entrepreneurship of Relevance in North East India on the occasion.
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