THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major effort to improve the flagging quality of scientific research in the State and promote industry partnership, the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) has identified four priority programmes to be taken up under the Chief Minister's one-year action plan.

The programmes include steps to promote the biotechnology sector and kick-start the biodiversity board, augmentation of R&D facilities and research fellowships. Signalling a break with the past, the Council has opted for a participatory approach involving research institutions.

In the biotechnology sector, the major proposals include an industrial partnership programme, a one-year post-doctoral fellowship modelled on the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) pattern and an integrated M.Sc. course.

Industry partnership

The collaboration seeks to establish financial and technical partnership between research institutes and biotechnology firms. The KSCSTE director, K.R.S. Krishnan, said the idea behind the programme was to facilitate technology transfer, which would benefit the State in the long run. "We are currently working on some leads. The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute are primary candidates for industrial collaboration. The programme is expected to take off by June," he said.

The post-doctoral fellowship programme is designed to encourage research in biotechnology applications. The fellowship carries a monthly allowance of Rs.11,500 and an annual contingency fund of Rs.10,000. The three Ph.D. holders selected for the programme can work at any research institution in India.

Talent pool

The five-year integrated M.Sc. course for Plus Two students will be offered by the National Institute of Technology, Kozhikode, with the KSCSTE providing scientists and faculty from universities. "We find that students opt for biotechnology only after they fail to make it to professional courses. By targetting Plus Two students, we hope to build up a pool of fresh talent for the emerging biotechnology industry in the State," Mr. Krishnan said.

Capacity-building

Another major programme identified for the one-year action plan is a scheme to enhance the quality of teaching and research in colleges. Named Selective Augmentation of R&D (SARD), it is a capacity-building exercise to equip laboratories in institutions of higher learning. "University departments and colleges will be the primary beneficiaries of this project. With better facilities, they should attract funding from the Central Government," says a council official.

Tie-up with local bodies

The Council has also identified a package of promotional and regulatory projects to kick-start the activities of the biodiversity board. As the sanctioning authority for collection of biological samples from the wild, local bodies will be drafted into the exercise as key elements in the regulatory framework to check bio-piracy.

The projects include preparation of biodiversity registers, awareness campaigns and application of biotechnology for biodiversity-related projects. While the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, will be entrusted with the promotional work, the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), Thrissur, will be the coordinating agency for the regulatory mechanism. The council hopes that sharing institutional resources would help to ensure a lean and mean structure for the board.

The Council has embarked on a research fellowship programme for Ph.D. in eight disciplines. Selected from the top five rank holders, the beneficiaries are entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs.8,000 and an annual contingency fund of Rs.10,000. The fellowship is expected to check the flight of outstanding students to other States in search of better research facilities.

State of the environment

The council has also embarked on a massive multidisciplinary exercise to assess the condition of the environment in the State. R&D institutions across the State are participating in the programme, which will help keep a constant tab on the air and water quality, level of forest depletion and degradation of the coastal areas.

A major portion of the programme has been completed and the council is in the process of bringing out a report. A permanent reporting mechanism will be put in place soon.

In the wake of the tsunami incident, the council is also preparing a pilot project for coastal protection which involves alternative strategies like natural barriers and beach nourishment.

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