Emphasizing the need for integrated R&D and new startups, he pointed out that 214 areas required S&T intervention. Revamping them into a state-of-the-art facility including all six ministries as well as the Department of pace and Atomic Energy.
The 5th joint conference of 6 science ministries is chaired by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
New Delhi: In continuation of the trend initiated by Dr. Jitendra Singh of holding joint meetings of different scientific streams to break the silos and fill in the lacunas faced by different departments, Mr. Singh chaired another meeting.Â
This meeting was attended by the then Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Secretary, of DST, Secretary of D/o Space, Secretary, of M/o Earth Sciences, Secretary, of D/o Biotechnology, Secretary, of DAE, Secretary, of Capacity Building Commission and representatives and senior officials of other science departments.
This is the 5th joint meeting of Science & Technology, Biotechnology, CSIR, Earth Sciences, Space and Atomic Energy, wherein the Minister emphasized integrated Start-Ups and integrated R&D.
The agenda of the meeting was to inform the Minister about 214 areas that require science and technology that have been mapped from 40 odd line ministries for revamping them into a state-of-the-art facility including all the six ministries as well as the Department of pace and Atomic Energy.
The line ministries for scientific upgradation and solution have always been on top of the agenda for PM Narendra Modi as he envisions the ministries to be modernized.
This includes all the ministries and departments whether under the aegis of Science and Technology or not.Â
On top of the agenda was to fix a budget for delivering the scientific solution and inputs to the ministries. A holistic budget was proposed in the meeting. Moreover, another matter at hand was the reception of ‘problem statements’ by 32 ministries and departments.
CSIR has been passed on to the onus to take the lead in 20 challenge areas and to participate in 46 challenge areas that pose an issue with the ministries concerned. This entire exercise will be coordinated, supervised, and completed by CSIR itself.Â
Moreover, the focus was shifted to the different applications used by sectors like agriculture, food, education, skill, railways, roads, Jal Shakti, power, and coal.
Apart from other Science Departments, DBT and ISRO have also submitted their preference for leading in solution development/deployment for a few challenges.
Dr. Singh pointed out that on the lines of the Central Minister and Departments about 172 major issues have been identified in 36 states and UTs. Moreover, 163 technological issues have also cropped up in the states that seek solutions from the center.Â
However, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation were successful in mapping all 28 states and 8 UTs for which he congratulated all the ministries and departments under him.
He added that mapping of States, including NE, was done in terms of innovation ranking, startup ranking, number of S&T Organizations, R&D labs, universities, Incubators, Start Ups, MSMEs, industries, Clusters, Grassroots Innovations, etc.
Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that in 2015, on the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an extensive brainstorming exercise was held in Delhi where representatives from different ministries and departments.
Engaged in intense interaction with scientists from ISRO and the Department of Space to work out as to how best the Space technology could be utilized as a modern tool for supplementing, improving, and expediting infrastructural development as well as the implementation of various welfare schemes.
In the meeting, all the Science Ministries and Departments prepare in advance the agendas, themes, and programmers for the breakaway session for the State S&T Ministers Conference which will be held later this year.
The National Science Conclave will include state-specific inclusions. This Conclave will consist of states, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.
The Science and Technology Communication Centre (STCC) has been proposed and will come into force.
At the time of launch, the success stories of all the departments will be compiled and disseminated among the masses to create general awareness about India’s Scientific Prowess.
He also directed that workshops on success stories must be organized at regular intervals.
