State support for Ramp;D urged

He said that under present scenario, it was the duty of the Government to provide enriching environment for indigenous research and developmentby practicising self preservation. 8220;We are forced to practise open market economy under the globalisation fundamentals, whereas even advanced countries like the United States have stringent measures for protection of their home markets,8221; he pointed out.

Further, asserting that economics was fast replacing the colonisation in the new world order,8220;only innovation and propagation of knowledge make us economically strong,8221; said Prof Rao.

We will have to learn to convert knowledge into wealth which we have failed to achieve so far, he felt. Dr Vijay Bhatkar, former executive director of C-DAC and chairman of ETH research lab said that clustering of individual research and development institutions had become a must in the present day context to explore the vast potential of information technology.

Executive director of C-DAC R K Arora said that the government was considering the proposal to corporatise the business division of C-DAC under section 25 of Companies Act.