Giving the keynote address at the ‘Global R&D Summit 2015’ on the theme, ‘Leveraging international cooperation to boost Indian innovation ecosystem’ organized by FICCI with the support of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, said that to increase the employment potential of the country and eradicate poverty, it was imperative to apply innovative solutions to the problems faced by the agricultural sector. This required political will and leadership for progress and development, both of which were present in adequate measure in the present government.
He has exhorted industry to make all-out efforts to convert knowledge to wealth through intensive R&D and innovation efforts even as he urged FICCI to focus its innovation promotion efforts to boost agricultural productivity and rural development.
YS Chowdary, Minister of State for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, in his inaugural address, emphasized the need to make a paradigm shift from scientist-centric research to people-
centric research so that the fruits of R&D and innovation were reaped by the people, especially by those at the bottom of the pyramid. In this context, he urged state governments to come on board and become actively involved in developing an innovation ecosystem, own projects and support them to the hilt.
He said his Ministry was actively considering the grant of incentive to kick-start, the ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ call by the Prime Minister. These would be in the shape of tax credits, setting up of incubation centres and mentor development.
Chowdary said that for ‘Make in India’ initiative to become employment-intensive and inclusive, it was essential to undertake innovative projects in rural India.
