Science labs must live up to national needs: PM

“The country looks up to its premier scientific institutions like the NCL for finding solutions to some of the most vexing problems that confront our society and development efforts. Our scientific laboratories must align their priorities even more closely to the national needs.

“They must contribute to the creation of wealth and deliver solutions which would change the lives of the most vulnerable sections of our society,” Singh said.

Emphasising the role of scientific institutions in producing solutions to social needs,the prime minster said,“Solutions must be found in a timely manner and must then move out of the laboratory quickly and gain wider acceptance.” Noting that the government had declared 2010-2020 as the ‘Decade of Innovations’,he said,“We need to instill the spirit of innovation in our young minds so that they could Expressing concern over insufficient numbers of students taking up science after 10+2 stage,Singh said,“It is important to bring our bright young men and women into the fold of exciting and stimulating research environment of colleges and universities.” There is a need to improve the quality of teaching science in schools,focus on faculty development,increase our expenditure on science and technology from the current low level of about one per cent of our GDP and further strengthen academia-industry interface.

“Our competitive advantage in the R and D sector may be lost unless we ensure that the country produces on a continuing basis an adequate number of competent and motivated young people who could lead our national laboratories,science agencies and knowledge based industries,” he said.