Fifth regional consultative meeting on ‘Ease of Doing Research’ begins at Science City

The fifth edition of the regional consultative meeting on ‘Ease of Doing Research’, being organised by the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) and NITI Aayog, commenced on Tuesday at Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad on the 106th birth anniversary of Dr Vikram A Sarabhai. The two-day meeting brings together 110 experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the country for technical sessions, panel discussions and strategic deliberations to advance the nation’s science, technology and innovation landscape.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor, NITI Aayog, highlighted initiatives to improve India’s Global Innovation Index ranking, strengthen state science and technology councils, and develop a unified portal for research project management.

P Bharathi, secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST, Gujarat, emphasised that enabling ease of research is essential to achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India.

Speaking virtually, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, former DG of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), called for strengthening India’s research ecosystem, closing policy gaps, and addressing challenges in innovation and talent retention.