New Delhi: Research and innovation environment in India is rapidly changing, with government actively supporting scientists with various incentive schemes, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said, as he tried to woo the Indian diaspora to come back and innovate in India.
Speaking at 'Bharat Ko Maano' session at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Gandhinagar, the Minister for Science and Technology also propagated the Make in India concept.
"Come back and innovate in India. Have faith in our capabilities and ability to support. Indians worldwide have been in the forefront of innovation. One third of NASA scientists are Indians. All they require is an enabling environment to work," the Minister for Science and Technology said.
"The Make In India initiative provided a major platform to promote innovation. The government has identified agricultural research, biotechnology, nano-sciences, affordable health care, clean energy and aerospace, as key areas for promoting R&D. Ayurgenomics and bio-entrepreneurship are also among the thrust areas," he added.
Quoting a report published by a leading American society, Vardhan said innovation and research was slowing down in the developed world, while witnessing a spurt in developing countries. He said 17 Indian companies that participated in the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos were promoted by first generation entrepreneurs, mostly by technocrats.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is particularly keen on institutionalising linkages between resident Indians and the diaspora to promote exchange of ideas. Former Chairman of ISRO K Radhakrishnan spoke about India's space achievements.
In his address, he said though India ranked 6th in the world in space programme, it ranked first in terms of space application and finding cost effective solutions. 'Bharat Ko Maano' session focused on innovations and contributions of India in the fields of science & technology, followed the 'Bharat ko Jaano' session in the morning, that explored Indian diaspora youth linkage with traditions, culture and philosophy, an official statement said.
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