Realising the importance of technology and innovation in overcoming limitation of resources and enhancing effectiveness of implementation of programmes, the Odisha government has decided to prepare a ‘Technology & Innovation Roadmap – 2035’ for the state.
The roadmap will be prepared in collaboration with Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), an autonomous society under the Union ministry of science & technology. The government intends to prepare the roadmap in a participatory manner by engaging different stakeholders — government departments, research & development (R&D) institutes, educational institutes, entrepreneurs, industry, scientists, researchers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and citizens.
It has sought support and technical inputs from industries like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) to prepare the roadmap.
“Being the leading industry for the application of technologies, I request you to suggest the names of the nodal officers in areas like technology for higher quality and reducing cost, technology for value addition, technology for waste management and technology for treating effluents. Also, I will request you to identify areas where innovative applications of technologies can be tried,” Injeti Srinivas, additional chief secretary (Odisha) wrote to the industries.
The roadmap would focus on how the local entrepreneurs can be encouraged for developing new technologies or for application of existing technologies in a cost effective manner may be explored.
The state government has urged the industries to organize workshops at their level to enlist the problem areas for application and implementation of innovative technologies.
The government believes both technology and innovation can play a key role in eradicating poverty, improving quality of life, achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and enhancement of employment opportunities. “Innovation is not only about developing new technology or product but also includes a business model, service, process, structure, system which have value for the business, industry and society. Keeping in view the myriad problems and high potential of adding value in various socio-economic sectors in the state to address the developmental concerns of large population, there is a need for innovation and technology application for inclusive development and growth,” the letter stated.
