PM commits operational autonomy for scientific institutes

ORISSA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Centre was committed to operational autonomy of certain scientific institutes of eminence and sought private investment for research and development activities. (Watch)

"We are committed to ensure operational autonomy, including in the matter of appointments, to various institutions of excellence under the Department of Atomic Energy as in the case with some other scientific institutions of eminence in India," the Prime Minister said.

He was speaking after laying the foundation for a new campus of the National Institute for Science Education and Technology (NISER) here.

Pointing out that the country had achieved great progress in science and technology, Singh said 'mission-oriented' institutes like Atomic Energy institutions had made the nation proud.

The country's expenditure on science and technology, however, was only one per cent of the GDP and the government was committed to increase R&D funding, Singh said.

While the government had been making larger allocations in the area for some time, Singh said he expected the private sector to do more for R&D.

"The private sector's participation is only zero point 25 per cent of the GDP, which is much less than the actual requirement," Singh said and called for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in R&D in all areas of science and technology.