HYDERABAD: Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge) for Science & Technology, Minister of State for PMO, PP/DoPT, Atomic Energy, Space and Vice President, CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the first-ever “Science Experience Centre” would contribute to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s vision of Viksit Bharat. He was addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the first-ever “Science Experience Centre” and an exclusive “Biofuel Centre” in the premises of CSIR-IICT Hyderabad. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the Science Experience Centre will definitely inspire the young minds of our nation and encourage them to come up with innovative ideas for StartUps. He further said that the culture will not move without science and science will not be fully accomplished without culture. Science Experience Centre is primarily engaged in spreading the culture of science in the society especially among students with a motto of ‘Communicating Science to Empower People’ by developing Exhibits/Exhibition/Galleries etc. and also organizing Interactive Science Education programs. He further said that on the other hand CSIR, the largest scientific R&D organization with about 8000 S&T staff, is an innovative engine of the country. CSIR and NCSM with their proven expertise in their respective areas and having overlapping objectives to promote science as a culture, and joining hands to setup Science Experience Center at CSIR-IICT’s premises at Hyderabad, is an immense need of the country, he added. The Minister said that CSIR addresses national needs through its innovative research, strong fundamental science, industry partnerships, entrepreneurship, translation research, capacity building, and policy making. He further said that some of the significant contributions of CSIR in the past decade include the development of an indigenous two-seater Hansa-NG aircraft for pilot training, Bio-jet fuel for sustainable aviation, developing India’s own footwear sizing system, earth-quake resistant structures for seismic zone IV and V and India’s first fuel cell driven automotive. Besides pioneering work in these areas, CSIR today has established many societal benefit programs that target marginalized communities, including women such as; aroma mission, sea weed cultivation, first ever demonstration of Heeng cultivation and the Purple revolution in Jammu and Kashmir, he added. Dr. Jitendra Sigh said that the Government has been taking all the initiatives for the development of a culture of science in the country. Events like the pandemic have only stressed the need to be equipped with science and technology and create awareness of society for science and scientific thinking, he said. In this regard CSIR had played a crucial role in fighting against covid, particularly CSIR-IICT’s role in developing adjuvant for Covid vaccine is highly appreciated. India is promoting experience-based learning and CSIR is one of the fore-runners, he added. Saying Hyderabad Pharma City (HPC) under making is the world’s largest integrated cluster in Hyderabad, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that for pharmaceutical industries with thrust on R&D and manufacturing and the cluster has been recognized as National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) by Government of India, given its national and international importance. Developed at international standards, Hyderabad Pharma City will harness the true value of symbiotic co-existence across the pharmaceutical value chain, he added. Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the agrochemical industry widely acknowledges the fact that it is the technologies developed by CSIR-IICT that heralded development of the agrochemical industry in India. CSIR-IICT demonstrated the Pheromone Application Technology (PAT) can be used as both monitoring and surveillance tool in Integrated Pest Management (IPM). CSIR envisages a vision of CSIR@2030 as to “Enhance quality of life of the citizens of India through innovative Science and Technology, globally competitive R&D, by developing sustainable solutions and capacity building to fulfil dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat”. This vision of CSIR is aligned to the Government of India’s vision for the next 25 years ‘Amrit Kal’ when independent India becomes 100 years old. In this endeavor, creation of Science Centers and Science Cities in the country will also form the basis in nurturing future scientists of the country.
