STIP 2020: “Impartial inclusion will make India global scientific superpower”
Hyderabad: “India is moving towards ‘technological self-reliance’ and will emerge as one of the ‘Top 3 scientific superpowers’ through Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020: A Transformative Science and Technology Agenda,” said Dr Sandeep Verma, Secretary of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), in the thirteenth edition of University Distinguished Lecture Series conducted by SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh on October 30, 2021.
The objectives of the Distinguished Lecture were enumerated by the Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. D. Narayana Rao. He further said that the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 9STIP-2020) will greatly enhance the scientific contributions of Universities, Institutions and National Laboratories. He said that Universities and Institutions are hubs for innovations.
Dr Verma, a recipient of one of the highest Indian awards in the field of Science, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, is known for his contributions towards experimental medicine by working in the areas of bio-chemical interface. Prof. Verma felt that the vision behind STIP:2020 can only be best executed through innovative, collaborative, and open science research that is best implemented in Universities and Educational Institutions like SRM University-AP.
Dr Verma elucidated that the primary idea behind STIP: 2020 is Inclusivity. STIP:2020 will require an uninhibited and indiscriminate free flow of scientific and innovative ideas between all the people with a scientific interest from the Indian diaspora and from rural India, from all genders, from all age groups ignoring any disability physical or otherwise. “We can’t afford to leave anyone behind”, Dr Verma said referring to India’s quest to become a scientific and technological superpower.
Prof. Sandeep Verma said that the gross spending of the country on R & D increased 3 times during the last 8 years.
Appreciating the efforts made by SRM University-AP, Dr Verma emphasised the need to have the researchers to come out in the open, solving real-life problems and making every individual Indian life better. “It is our Scientific Social Responsibility to conduct such open forums for scientific communication and understanding,” he said, “As India moves towards technological self-reliance and indigenisation, STIP: 2020 comes as a landmark innovation policy at this crucial juncture.” Dr Verma ended his talk with the hopeful note that other Universities would follow the example of SRM University-AP and make such conscientious efforts towards innovation to make lives better.
The lecture was attended by Dr S Chandrasekhar, Director, CSIR-IICT and over 2300 members from several premier institutions: IITs, NITs, IISERs, Universities and Institutions, CSIR, DST, DBT, DRDO, DAE, ISRO, NARL, MoES and several others from different parts of the country.
Prof. V.S. Rao, Vice Chancellor and Prof. D. Narayana Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor felicitated Prof. Sandeep Verma and presented a memento.