Industry not contributing enough for research in India: C N R Rao

MYSURU: Noting that the industry was yet to contribute a significant amount on research in the country, eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee C N R Rao today said at least 30-40 per cent of the share of scientific work must be borne by the industry.

Addressing the 103rd Indian Science Congress, Rao said with the right investment from both industry and government, dedicated hard work of the scientific community and a society with scientific temper, nothing can prevent India from being on top of the world in about 10-15 years.

Noting that all the money for science and technology comes from government, he said "our industry is yet to contribute a significant amount on research."

"We cannot go on blaming the government asking them for more money or land... At least 30-40 per cent of the share of scientific work in India must be borne by industry," he added.

Delivering Bharat Ratna Sir M Vishveshwarya lecture on 'Doing Science in India' at the event after the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said no democratic country of the size of India has ever faced the challenges of India, but we can still do it.

"In spite of a large number of institutions, India is not doing as well in terms of the amount of scientific research that comes out of the country," he said as he expressed worry about its quality.

Rao said India will have to first invest in education to improve the quality of research in the country. "Our investment in education is just 2 per cent of the GDP of which hardly 0.4 per cent is for higher education...," he said.

"Unless we improve our science and technology institutions how can we ever come up with startup companies, innovations. All those have to come from these institutions."

Stating that he represented "small science", Rao complained that most of the money for science in the country goes to "big science", referring to atomic energy and space science.

"...I appeal to our Prime Minister, appeal to our Finance Minister, unless you support small science in India, I don't see how India will prosper...," he said.

He said, "...15 to 20 years if we don't progress and get on to the top of the world we will lose, because world will change. So we have to do it soon."