India underinvests in science: ​Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

Speaking on nurturing science, he said, “India underinvests in science compared to most western countries but that underinvestment is amplified by the fact that private R&D in India is abysmal. In most countries it is 2:1 ratio private public (investment)….What it requires to be among the top countries for Science is a sustained and substantial commitment to research as it takes around 50 years to make that transition. It also has to be coupled by good practices. To succeed in today’s world requires an economy driven by science and technology. Historically this has been through becoming a manufacturing power but in 21st century, manufacturing also requires innovation, not just labour.”

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Stating that the investment in private research and development (R&D) in India was “abysmal” Venki cited the case of Rolls Royce, which manufactured engines for jets and invested high amounts on R&D and healthcare major GlaxoSmithKline.

The noted scientist spoke about how wealth of a country depends on knowledge and innovation and that economic growth precedes scietific growth, provided a minimum level of high quality science needed to make the transition.

Batting for “freedom for young investigators”, Venki said that to grow science needed stable long-term funding, efficient transparent procedure and flexibility of funding and that countries should not “wait for the economy to get better to invest in science”.

He also expressed concern that while India was at an advantage to develop solar power it was China that was the largest producer of photovoltaic cells. “Why not India?”, he said.

Asked about his dream for India, Venki who was born in Tamil Nadu and grew up in Vadodara said he was a “defector” having left the country when 19-years old but said that he would like to see India corruption free and “have standards in public hygiene” and that young people be educated. Remembering how he used to cycle in his days in Gujarat, he said it was impossible now at the rate cities were growing in a way none had planned.

Pointing out areas in which India has a unique advantage, he advocated use of modern methods including GM (genetically modified) for drought and pest resistsance and more nutritive crops, exploiting solar energy and harness India’s large resources of Thorium. He also mentioned that India can take the lead globally in discovery of vaccine development, generic and new drugs and in robotics, handling of complex data in the field of IT.

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