Labs should turn to youngsters for fresh ideas: Harsh Vardhan

Laboratories should start brainstorming with youngsters to generate out-of-the-box ideas which can help the country, Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan said today.
"I always request the senior and experienced people, those who handle our state-of-the-art laboratories, to please start afresh out-of-the-box process of brainstorming with our younger friends.
"They can give us latest ideas, they will be able to solve most of our problems," the minister said while inaugurating the 16th edition of 'Bangalore India Bio 2016' event here.
He said providing affordable healthcare solutions to the common man is a challenge before scientists and technologists.
Speaking about the 'Startup India' initiative of the government, Vardhan said, "An amount of Rs 10,000 crore has been kept only to support the young people in the country who have bright and brilliant ideas, and I think this is where the country needs to use the young people."

Stating that India needs more affordable medicines and technology, he said "Over the years, working in the field of health, I have seen that there is so much of advancement, but every advancement takes the healthcare delivery system a little distance away from the common man because of the cost."

The challenge before scientists, technologists and others is to make it affordable for people, he said.
Pointing out that science in India has a very glorious past, he said, "Our ancient wisdom has a lot to give us...Inspiration and the confidence for ensuring that we have a future which is brighter than our past."

Speaking at the event, K Vijayraghavan, Secretary,
Department of Biotechnology, said given the rapid growth of the Indian economy and the need for a knowledge sector, it is vital that we develop our international links.
"We will soon have a Bangalore-Bostoncorridor which will not just have interactions in biotech andstartups, but importantly facilitate our business schools, lawschools and science and technology centers here for exchanging students and post-graduates in a manner where humanities, engineering and science mix together, so that we have a virtual ecosystem," he said.
Noting that Indian companies can play a key role inthe emerging area of orphan diseases, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said Karnataka is in the process of actually announcing an orphan drug policy very shortly.

"It is urgent need of the hour. I thinkburden of various genetically-linked orphan diseases is hugeand I think there is a huge unmet need to basically address this very alarming situation in this county.
"In Karnataka, the Centre for Human Genetics has played a key role in this area, and I do believe that the country needs a strong policy in the orphan disease area.
"That alone will basically forge and spearhead large number ofstartups that will look at this kind of opportunities," shesaid.