India is passing through an interesting stage in its scientific and technological development. Ten years after the May 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests, India is now accepted globally as a nuclear weapon state. The prototype fast breeder reactor is progressing well in Kalpakkam and the advanced heavy water reactor is recognised internationally as an innovative design. Chandrayaan-1 mission has been spectacularly successful. All the recent missile test launches have fully achieved their aims. So, the high-technology mission-oriented agencies are doing well.
Energy security and climate change threat are two of the greatest challenges before the world today. Mitigating energy technologies, high-resolution modelling to estimate vulnerabilities and corresponding adaptation strategies are needed as responses. The National Action Plan for Climate Change charts a low-carbon path for India without compromising on the velocity of its economic development. This will require strong and sustained efforts in research and innovation, including international collaboration.
There is, however, concern that talented young people are not getting attracted sufficiently to research careers. One could say that the entry of such bright young people in wealth-creating activities is what has led to the high GDP growth rate in recent years. I think it is now possible to leave enough such people in wealth-creating activities, while attracting the most talented in sciences to scientific careers. Such talented young people must be assured attractive careers for, say, 15 years, after the 10+2 class. Good scholarships up to postgraduate work; at the doctoral stage, a fellowship on par with salaries of employed young people of their age; and five years of an assured job after Ph.D in a national laboratory or a university, depending on their choice.
I have talked to young Science Olympiad medal winners who are now in professional courses, and they tell me that if a plan like the above had been there, they would have stayed in basic sciences, in the subjects they love. It is my feeling that as Indian industry becomes more and more globally competitive, such talented and qualified people in basic sciences will be greatly in demand, particularly in knowledge-intensive industries.
The present hemorrhage of research talent extends also to engineering sciences. In a brain-storming session in our office some time back, in which Dr J. J. Irani of Tata Sons also participated, we recommended that when a company goes to engineering institutions for placement interviews, the most talented among the fresh graduates they select should be paid job salaries but be allowed to do research with a professor acceptable to the company.
This research should be in a broad area of interest to the company and should not be limited to problem solving, which is too restrictive. This scheme, I understand, is now being implemented in some companies.
Such schemes will help to grow interest in what I call 'directed basic research', an important and needed additionality to conventional basic research. 'Directed basic research', as I define it, is basic research strongly supported by the government which is of long-term interest to industry or society or in the country's long-term strategic interests. Industry should also indicate the desirable areas of directed basic research, determined from their own technology foresight analyses.
In the chain of research-development-delivery, industrial development requires creation of innovative academia-industry interaction interfaces, like the Core Advisory Group for Automotive Research (CAR) nucleated by our office. CAR focuses on pre-competitive applied research as well as on directed basic research. We have a similar initiative for the machine tool industry and would like to extend it to other industries. Rural development, on the other hand, requires the creation of innovative technology delivery interfaces, an example being the Rural Technology Action Group (RuTAG).
The search for truth—the motivation of most scientists in basic research—has to be supplemented by the desire for advancement of society, the alleviation of poverty and enhancement of national security. This is where innovation comes in. Research involves generation of new knowledge. Innovation involves adding economic or strategic value to that knowledge. Wealth creation is dependent on innovation capacity more than on scientific and technological strength.
It is the increasing innovation capacity, both in services and manufacturing that is driving our high GDP growth rate. In some areas like atomic energy and space, we are no longer considered a developing country. As we progress to become a 'developed' country in the fullest sense of the term, we must become scientifically and technologically advanced across the board, while we retain and strengthen our innovation capacity. In the process, we must empower fully the disadvantaged sections of society.
The science and technology ecosystem must encourage creativity from a young age. The research environment must include a robust innovation component. I coined a phrase some years back: "Coherent Synergy" among the numerous components of the S&T ecosystem—human resource development, R&D, academia-industry inter#action, international collaboration and so on.
It is the responsibility of the government and society to nurture talent, whether in arts, sports or science and technology. And it is the duty of every citizen to maximise his competence in the service of society. This requires character.
Einstein once said: "Most people think that it is the intellect which makes a great scientist. They are wrong, it is the character." What Einstein really meant was that, though high intellect is obviously necessary to do great science, it is not sufficient. The definition of character, however, is not easy. It means integrity, it means perseverance in the face of adversity, it means pursuit of excellence. It also means commitment to justice and social equity.
