‘Scientists must not take pride in guaranteed fiscal resources and not deliver tangible results’: Vice President Dhankhar

Referring to an earlier survey by CSIR, the Vice President said, “I am concerned that scientists must not do lip service to research and development. Our contribution and results have to be substantial and not mere ‘cosmetic’ or ‘superficial’. We cannot just take pride in saying that so much (is being) invested for research and development. Those engaged in research at academic institutions should not be only in the pursuit of academics alone. Research is not (limited to) getting information or assimilation”.

He appealed to the gathering that investments must be done on the basis of certain Standard Operating Principle (SOP) and suggested that investment must be encouraged in a certain human resource development or in an institution that can ”authentically” engage in R&D.

In his address, Dhankhar drew parallels between research undertaken at academic institutions, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and the national research centres.

Referring to one of his past visits to an IIT and the lasting positive impression about the high-quality and excellent research undertaken by professors along with students, Dhankhar, reminded that the Indian scientific community must be ‘on guard’.

“Merely because fiscal resources are committed, you cannot take home pride in having spent so much on R&D. Investment for R&D has to be co-related to tangible outcomes. There are experts available who can evaluate these tangible outcomes,” he pointed out.

He underscored that the recognition for the Indian scientific community, in recent years, had risen. The Vice President further urged that a roadmap be created so that India’s growth is accelerated further.

“India was the leader in science and innovation, but it was lost in the way. Now again, India is on the way to regaining that past glory in science. India’s ongoing incremental growth cannot be stopped now,” he said.

Any country’s development is dependent on its R&D and that Indian corporates must not shy away in investing in the same, said Vice President Dhankhar. He said that Indian corporate companies were investing in limited areas like Information and Technology, automobile, but given the sheer size of India and its potentials, a lot more needs to be done.

“I call upon the Indian corporate companies to come forward and invest generously in research and development. I look forward to a day when Indian companies will feature in the top 20 global corporates that invest the highest in R&D. This investment is long lasting, and more importantly, has another aspect — soft diplomacy and India has that power. These days, R&D is so integrated into security that any investment is for the nation’s development, growth and sustainability,” he said.

Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Central Government, who was present on the occasion said that technology and innovation are powered by fundamental science.

“The time lapse between the discovery in science and technology adoption is shrinking day by day. Science and technology are intertwined and this relation may not be reciprocal. I have seen that science always uses the most recent technology leading to newer disruptive technologies,” he added.

Among those present on the occasion were K Radhakrishnan, former chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation, who delivered the foundation day lecture, N Kalaiselvi, CSIR director general, former CSIR chiefs and serving scientists.