To minimise dependence on crude oil amid swelling import bills, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said state-run energy companies should invest more in research and development (R&D), which should reach at least two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) of India by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.
“We must aim to increase the total R&D spend as a percentage of GDP to 2 per cent by the end of the XII Plan Period from the current level of about 0.9 per cent. I believe public sector undertakings, especially in the energy sector should play a major role in this expansion,” he said while inaugurating the 99th Indian Science Congress at KIIT campus here.
Oil contributes to more than a third of India's total energy consumption, next to coal. As the country imports about 80 per cent of its total crude oil need, a weaker rupee against the dollar has made the shipments costlier, prodding the government to look for other resources such as bio-diesel. He stressed upon more private investment in R&D sector to match with speedily growing China and hinted about policy formulation in this segment.
“At present publicly funded R&D is skewed in favour of fundamental rather than applied research. It is easier to attract industrial funds into applied research areas and a set of principles should be formulated to push such funding and to drive Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in R&D,” the prime minister said.
Taking a dig at Indian industries for their half-hearted approach in setting up R&D centres in the country, he said, “It is in some ways ironic that GE and Motorola have created world class technology hubs in India, while our own industry has not done so except perhaps in the pharma sector. We need to look at ways of incentivising private R & D investment,” Singh said.
PM suggested agricultural scientists should work for more productive approach towards starting a second green revolution. He said, there is a need to boost the supply chain of the science sector to ensure guaranteed employment for interested researchers and scientists in the country.
Singh appreciated the contribution of tribals of Orissa, particularly in the districts of Koraput and Mayurbhanj, for conservation of bio-diversity and developing climate resilient farming system and medicinal usage of locally available plant.
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Speaking on the occasion, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union minister for science, technology and earth science said, there is a need for another innovation policy to attract private fund into research sector. Stressing on the need for commercialization of R & D ideas, he said, tangible benefits could be obtained if research outputs are converted into GDP growth.
Among others, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, General President, 99th Indian Science Congress, Geetha Bali and vice-chancellor of KIIT University, AS Kolaskar spoke on the occasion.
The five-day long science congress, which is also hosting the 60th UNESCO Kalinga Award, will end on 7 January. About 15,000 scientists including 500 from abroad and 11 noble laureates are attending this function.
This year’s theme of the congress is “Science and Technology for Inclusive Innovation- Role of Women”. As part of this event, former President A P J Abdul Kalam will inaugurate Children’s Science Congress tomorrow while India’s Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao, would kick off the Women’s Science Congress on January 5.