Manmohan Singh wants Indian scientists to think out of the box

CHENNAI - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Monday said that Indian scientists needed to think “out of the box” for scientific advancement and innovations in the country.

Addressing the 98th Indian Science Congress here, Dr Singh said: ” The time has come for Indian science to once again think big; think out of the box; and think ahead of the times. The time has come for India to produce the Ramans and Ramanujans of the 21st Century.

“Science should be used for the betterment of the lives of the people,” Dr. Singh said.

Asking the scientific community to devote its energies to pinpoint the strategies that help the country realize its true potential, Dr. Singh said: “Unless we strengthen the base of our science education system, we cannot attain the height of the pyramid of excellence.”

“If the country is to reap the full benefits of spending on scientific research and reach the fruits to the common man, then the link between the universities where research takes place and the industry that uses the results of the research to make products of mass use must be strengthened in the country,” he said.

Taking note of the fact that the Indian scientific work was making good progress. Dr. Singh said: “Cyber technology gives the opportunity to pool resources and collaborate with Indians working in different streams of scientific arena so that the common man is benefitted.

“The high speed national knowledge network will greatly facilitate such collaborations,” he added.

Emphasizing that the growth of economy, the health of people and the security of our country depends on the scientific and technological competence, Dr Singh said: “This is reflected in the substantial support that all governments give to the pursuit of scientific research. This support is often swayed by the immediate needs as perceived at that time.

“In this way the direction of scientific effort is shaped by society at large,” he added.

Stressing on the need to better higher education in the country, Dr Singh said: “Our Government in the last six years has tried to pay special attention to the growth and development of our university system. We have sanctioned funds for the creation of new universities and increased the capacity of existing ones.

“In the past five years, the Government has established eight new IITs and five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research to provide high quality education and carry out research in frontier areas of science and technology,” he added.

Over 7500 scientists from all over the country including six Nobel Laureates are participating in the five day science conclave. (ANI)