Ninety percent of students in the United States attend colleges and universities with little research. K VijayRaghavan, the Centre’s Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), stated that this must be corrected. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and science agencies.
Key Highlights
- K VijayRaghavan, the Centre’s Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), stated that this must be corrected.
- He emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and science agencies.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has brought together science agencies in an unprecedented way.
- “Our science and industry must work hand in hand,” he continued.
- The tying of unneeded numerous types of rules should be abolished, he said.
Despite being so close to major research centers, 90% of the country’s students attend colleges and universities where little research is done, according to Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Centre K VijayRaghavan on Friday. In his address to the CII Lifesciences Conclave, he emphasized the importance of collaboration between industry and science bodies. The COVID-19 pandemic, according to VijayRaghavan, has brought together science agencies in an unprecedented way. The Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR), Department of Science and Technology and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are among the country’s research ecosystem’s “absolutely mind-boggling” spread, he said.
These institutes contain vast intellectual, material, and other infrastructure resources, which must be fully utilized, he said. Similarly, there are roughly 70-75 central institutions across the country, as well as hundreds of state and private universities. “Ninety percent of research funding goes to laboratories that employ ten percent of our students. “Ninety percent of our students attend universities/colleges where there is minimal research,” the official stated, “although they are literally a stone’s throw away from the best areas for research, and this is something that needs to be addressed.” He claims it’s a “salt-pepper blend” that solves the problem. VijayRaghavan argued that if these agencies collaborate, the national lab network of resources might be made available to both industry and these colleges and institutions. Other countries are attempting this as well, but not on the scale that India is capable of due to its population, network of interconnected laboratories, and the fundamental simplicity of research. He emphasized that this is something that must be done.
The Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) went on to say that the tying of unneeded numerous types of rules should be abolished. All of them are ongoing procedures. VijayRaghavan, speaking about the pandemic collaboration between industry and the country’s science bodies, said there is a big threat that is like a rubber band being ripped apart. “As the epidemic fades, the rubber band shrinks and reverts to its previous state. We can’t go back to the way things were. “Our science and industry must work hand in hand,” he continued.
