New Delhi, October 10: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday asked industry to do more to turn Indian scientific research into commercial ventures, saying this was needed to meet the country’s 2047 goals and strengthen its strategic sovereignty.
Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, was speaking at the 121st Annual Session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in New Delhi.
Bring industry in early
The minister said companies should be involved from the start of research projects, so that scientists understand market needs and work on solutions with a clear route to commercial use. Industry bodies such as PHDCCI could link researchers with businesses and help ideas move from laboratory to prototype to market, he said.
He said India’s next phase of technological growth should move beyond adopting technologies developed elsewhere towards indigenous solutions with global relevance. He cited the growth of the space sector after policy reforms and greater private participation as an example.
Quantum and bioeconomy figures
Under the National Quantum Mission, Singh said, India had set an eight-year target of 2,000 km of quantum-secure communication and had reached the 1,000 km mark in three years.
He said India’s bioeconomy had grown from about US$10 billion in 2014 to around US$196 billion, with a target of US$300 billion by 2030.
Referring to the government’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiative, he said greater private investment in research was essential to speed up commercial use of scientific discoveries. He also stressed the need for indigenous technologies and reliable energy supplies for India’s plans in artificial intelligence, data infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
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