Union Minister for Science and
Technology and Earth Sciences Jaipal Reddy on Thursday expressed his
concern about connection between our knowledge and industrial
application systems and said that the government
is committed to promote partnerships between industry and academia in research and development.
Launching the Prime Minister's
Fellowship Scheme for Doctoral Research here Reddy said: "There are huge
emerging opportunities that are waiting to be tapped and converted into
value for the country by bridging the disconnects between the knowledge
and wealth creation sector."
"Some concerns have been expressed at
various levels that the connections between our knowledge and industrial
application systems are weak. There are some pessimists who worry about
such problems. The present doctoral fellowship is indeed working in the
area of national gap and is targeted to bridge those disconnects,"
Reddy said.
"Our knowledge institutions like IISc,
IITs, IISERs and Universities are creating intellectual properties in
the form of papers in peer valued scientific journals, but the challenge
is in the conversion of such knowledge into products of commercial
value to the industrial users. While our public funded R and D (Research
and Development) systems are busy publishing papers, the industries are
searching for technologies for commercialization," added Reddy.
The Prime Minister's Fellowship Scheme
for Doctoral Research offers opportunities with incentives for students
registered for doctoral research starting the year 2012 in any of
knowledge institutions as well as R and D personnel employed in
industrial sector but registered into doctoral research programmes in
cutting edge areas of importance.
The minister informed that a
Sub-Committee of Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry was
constituted for promoting Public-Private-Partnership in Research and
Development and Clean Energy.
Reddy expressed his hope that the
private sector will also invest more and more into research and
innovations and partner our research institutions in solving national
problems through accessible, available and affordable innovations.
