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New science policy soon: Deshmukh

Bhubaneshwar, Jan 3, 2012: Making a strong pitch for using science for the benefit of the people, Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said a new policy to govern the sector and promote innovation will be unveiled soon. "We need a new and well enunciated science, technology and innovation policy... My ministry will dedicate to the nation such a well balanced policy soon," he said after inaugurating the 99th Indian Science Congress at the KIIT University campus here.

Noting that the previous science policy was unveiled in 2003, he said the new policy should promote an innovation ecosystem that addressed the national priority for inclusive and sustained growth. "We need big ideas in science, new methods in governance of R&D systems, right investment of resources, aspiration to emerge as world leader in science and dedication to serve the people of India through the tools of technology and affordable innovations," he said.Deshmukh also stressed on the need to establish a transparent and evidence-based regulatory system to make sensible use of the bio-technological tools and techniques for the benefit of the people. "We must present paradigm shift in our mindsets of developing 'policy for science' to developing 'science policy for people'," he said.

Pointing out that current Indian policies treated the R&D sector in segregated compartments, he said a change in the policy paradigm for treating the entire R&D sector in the country as one and developing public-private partnerships for R&D to promote public and social good are important new strategies. "R&D outputs should be converted into measurable economic and social outcomes," he said.