Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor, and Chairman, Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet delivered the First Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture organised by CII and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, today in New Delhi. He outlined future areas of research such as big data analytics, high-tech startups, etc and stressed that industry and institutes need to be in ‘thermal equilibrium’ to translate research into commercial applications.
Dr Chidambaram said that India enjoys high range of technological capabilities. He cited the example of large industries working directly with research industries on technologies resulting in products. For smaller industries, knowledge has to be imparted from large industries to small industries which would in turn develop products.
Dr Chidambaram also provided examples of excellence of commercialization of Indian R&D such as launch of 74 satellites from 20 countries by ISRO.
The lecture also covered energy and water security and rural technologies. Dr Chidambaram mentioned trends including high-tech start-ups in advanced manufacturing and machine tool sector and analytics of big data. Open technologies such as the world wide web would propel the country into the future. He concluded by saying that India should introduce novel technologies by taking some risk.
Ms Shobana Kamineni, President Designate, CII and Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., touched upon Dr Kalam’s interaction with CII in science and technology. He was the first chairman of CII National Council on Technology in 1998 and encouraged CII’s initiatives in technology. These have grown from strength to strength in many areas including nanotechnology, design, Intellectual Property Rights, innovation and entrepreneurship. She added that the best way to pay tribute to Dr. Kalam is to work on the areas of science and technology to result in innovative products and solutions for the society.
The event also hosted a panel discussion on Technology Trends and Future Research Directions for India with eminent experts including Prof Pankaj Chandra, Chairman, Board of Management, Ahmedabad University; Dr T Ramasami, Former Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, GoI; Dr S Guruprasad, Outstanding Scientist & CC R&D (PC&SI), Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO); Mr Kiran Karnik, Former President, NASSCOM, and Mr Salil Singhal, Chairman & Managing Director, PI Industries Ltd.
Dr APJM Nazima Marakayar, niece of Dr Abdul Kalam and Managing Trustee, APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, said that we have to work together in the areas of science and technology including some of the favourite areas of solar and space. Mr APJMJ Sheik Dawood, Mr APJMJ Sheik Saleem and Mr G K Moinudeen, family members and Managing Trustees of APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation also attended the event.
10 August 2016
New Delhi