The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Call for `technological foresight'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 17, 2007
ePaper


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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Call for `technological foresight'

Special Correspondent

Coherent synergy of various segments imperative

Coimbatore: The Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, R. Chidambaram, has called for a `technological foresight' (for entrepreneurs), which should help make right technical devices with the national perspective.

He was inaugurating a national conference on `automotive manufacturing' organised by the PSG College of Technology here in association with the Society of Automotive Engineers India (Southern Section) on Friday.

Innovation

He had no doubt that India would become a leader in innovation. For that, "coherent synergy" of various segments like the Government, academia and the industry was imperative. " If all the vectors were to point in one direction we can achieve 10 per cent growth".

Dr.Chidambaram said that the Government was prepared to help automobile sector to the best possible extent as manufacturing sector generated jobs. It had even proposed a combustion research institute at a cost of Rs. 200 crore in the 11th Plan. Besides, advanced material for supercritical situations (beyond 700 deg C), biofuels, hybrid propulsion platform, silicon foundry and light emitting diodes were some of the areas that had received proposals in the Plan.

Automotive Mission Plan

Under the 10-year Automotive Mission Plan (2006-2016), it had been proposed to promote technology, infrastructure, domestic demand and exports and brands as well computerisation of the Regional Transport Offices and ensuring roadworthiness. A National Automotive Technology and Research programme had also been drafted.

An exclusive Core Advisory Group had been formed for automotive research. As poor interaction between industry and academia was a major weakness in Indian scenario, it would prepare a database of scientists and professors who were inclined to interact with the industry. A Technology Road map would also be prepared. It would concentrate on environmental quality and enhanced energy security apart from economic growth and global competitiveness.

Global warming

He pointed out that automobile sector was one of the major contributors for pollution. Now the world was faced with the serious threat of global warming. In this context, he observed that `hybrid electrical vehicles' could revolutionise the entire scenario. They could ensure improved fuel economy and reduced emission.

Dr. Chidambaram also urged the entrepreneurs to go in for `flexible automotive manufacturing'. According to him, the focus had shifted from Europe and the USA to Japan and now to China and India with regard to manufacture of automobiles. " Japan is now worried about China and India". In such a situation, it was imperative to further improve Indian products for which research and development were a must. And the research should become `globally competitive'.

While basic self-directed research was also essential (because it would take care of the long-term interests of the society), applied research for industrial requirements should also be encouraged. For this companies should work in a consortium mode.

Competition

Dr. Chidambaram underlined the need for a `sustainable competition' in the global arena through `relentless innovation'. He was for the shift from `putting innovation in products' to the concept of `innovation is a product'. It was the universities that could play a major role in this regard.

"The name of the game is Intellectual Property Rights" and "that is where money is". In this context, he urged the industries and academic institutions to patent their innovations.

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