“The Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission is a well-planned strategy to make the country a global powerhouse. It is based on the five pillars of economy, infrastructure, technology driven system, vibrant demography and demand. India is ranked to 48 on the Global Innovation Index improving consecutively for the third year in a row” said Union Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, at the 9th Foundation Day of Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) organized digitally.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Harsh Vardhan congratulated GITA for successfully completing 9 years of operations. He mentioned that GITA’s role is increasingly relevant as we progress on the journey of creating India as a global superpower and also for India to truly become ‘Aatmanirbhar’ a superpower, it needs to make technology an all- pervasive enabling tool across all sectors of development.
While acknowledging with great reverence, Hon’ble minister stated that India’s scientists, entrepreneurs and institutions have left no stone unturned while dedicating themselves in finding quick and deployable solutions during this global pandemic.
In his address at the Inaugural Session, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India highlighted that GITA is playing vital role in integrating knowledge into economy. He said Aatma Nirbhar Bharat is related to 3 principles – ‘Aatma Vishwas’, ‘Aatma Samman’ and ‘Aatma Chintan’. Dr. Sharma also expressed in his speech that future S&T schemes should follow GITA's model wherein Industry has been given a bigger role for making a technological leap. Besides, creating a strong and holistic scientific ecosystem in India, there is also a need to create, within the country, a strong capability in next generation of technologies, which include cyber-physical systems, Space, precision agriculture, biotechnology and bio-pharma, electric mobility, cyber security, artificial intelligence, clean energy including energy storage and power management, additive manufacturing and water & waste management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Deep Kapuria, First Member of GITA Board and Chairman, The Hi-Tech Group of Companies stated that GITA has steadily worked towards strengthening the industrial innovation ecosystem and encouraging industrial investments in innovative technology solutions through mapping technology gaps, evaluating technologies available across the globe, forging techno-strategic collaborative partnerships appropriate for the Indian economy. Atmanirbhar is being a responsible candidate in global platform.
The Foundation Day had the Special Fireside Chat with Prof K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to Govt of India which was moderated by Mr. Rajan Navani, Vice Chairman, Managing Director & CEO Jet Synthesis. Prof. VijayRaghavan expressed that the we are now witnessing the opportunities which are being created ‘By India’ and ‘With India’ during this new era of 2020. Prof. Raghavan mentioned that the synergy between all the facets of a society including Science and Technology would serve as the foundation of AtmaNirbhar Bharat and also there should be a new way of scientific collaboration to take the world forward as a whole. Countries should get together and articulate their vision for Society. Prof K Raghavan also mentioned that MSME's in India are the bread and butter for our economy and have done extraordinary well in many of the sectors. Manufacturing linked to design and not just labour intensive manufacturing is the key to take our MSMEs on a global stage. For reaching our aim of New India 2021 and to make changes on national level we have to take responsibilities on local level.
The GITA Foundation Day was graced by Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Mr. Piyush Srivastava, ADC, Ministry of MSME, and saw dignitaries from Embassies, H.E. Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden in India, H.E. Vincenzo de Luca, Ambassador of Italy in India, First Secretaries, S&T Counselors and Experts from Israel, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Finland, Spain and Taiwan coming together and shared their views on self-reliance of countries in an increasingly collaborative world.
The day long digital conference was power packed with 49 speakers, 6 Country Sessions from Israel, Sweden, Canada, Republic of Korea, Italy and Finland and a Panel Discussion on “Global Perspective” on countries becoming self-reliant in a collaborative world where representatives from 7 countries sharing their views.
GITA has launched an eBook ‘Mapping Technology Strengths of Select Countries’ on this occasion. The virtual event had the participation of virtual delegation from Israel and Republic of Korea and a Digital Exposition from 36 technology intensive Companies from India and the 6 partner countries as well as technology display of some of GITA facilitated projects.
26 November 2020
New Delhi