Current Science

Dipankar Mukhopadhyay ¹

Affiliations
1 Satyendranath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block-JD, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, IN

Abstract

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2013, announced in January 2013 during the centenary session of the Indian Science Congress held in Kolkata, declared in no uncertain terms that the science, technology and innovation (STI) system would be the driving force for a faster, sustainable and inclusive economic growth of India. In the past we have witnessed successful applications of science and technology (S&T) in addressing societal problems in India, in the Green Revolution, the White Revolution and in space and communication science to name a few. This has helped improve the quality of life of a large part of our population and strengthened our economic independence. We have also before us, the examples of war-ravaged Japan, which resurrected its economy post World War II and systematically went up the technology ladder by virtue of its reliance on strength of S&T. In the recent past countries like South Korea, have emerged as technological giants in the competitive world. In this backdrop, our new STIP appears to be most appropriate. It is absolutely necessary to launch policy initiatives simultaneously in different spheres to create an enabling environment for successful implementation of the different aspects of this STIP. This article attempts to draw an outline of such a coherent strategy.

Keywords

Coherent strategy, citation impact, Science, Technology and Innovation Policy.

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Dipankar Mukhopadhyay ¹

Affiliations
1 Satyendranath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Block JD, Sector-III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, IN

Abstract

The present article traces the course of science policy formulation and science funding in India. While in the pre-independence period the private trusts and endowments played a pioneering role in encouraging higher studies and research in science, it is the Government which has been the major fund provider since independence. The article further highlights the thrust areas in various science and technology policy resolutions adopted since independence. While underlining the mechanism of state funding of science research in our country, it has drawn an analogy with the same in the United States.

Keywords

Inclusive Growth, Innovation, Science Funding, Science Policy.

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Dipankar Mukhopadhyay ¹

Affiliations
1 Bose Institute, Kolkata 700 054, IN

Abstract

Last year (2016) was the fiftieth year since the submission of the Report of the Education Commission (1964–66), popularly known as the Kothari Commission Report. This report, in four volumes, was the most comprehensive among other such reports and laid the foundation for the national education pattern. In the sphere of higher education and scientific research, the report strongly urged the necessity of ischolar_maining our science on indigenous ethos and priorities, maintaining highest autonomy in academic matters in our institutions of higher education, making our universities the arena of high-quality teaching and research, maintaining high efficiency in the utilization of scarce resources including that of our scientific manpower, selectively encouraging certain centres of excellence so as to bring them at par with international institutions of repute and, above all, nurturing a value system in our scientific temperament, so that we draw nourishment from our rich cultural and spiritual heritage. In this article, we dwell upon these aspects of the report, some of which are rather unconventional. A review like this is still relevant, particularly in the context of making our science, technology and innovation system more productive and socially relevant.

Keywords

Higher Education, Nation-Building, Research Enterprise, Science, Technology and Innovation Enterprise.

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