A special pavilion with posters of research projects of 23 Prime Minister’s Fellows was inaugurated by Dr T Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, on the occasion of first anniversary celebrations of the scheme in New Delhi on Friday. The anniversary celebrations coincided with the CII Global University-Industry Congress. The scheme was launched on the same day in 2012, in partnership with Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST). Under this scheme, PhD fellows are given double scholarship—of up to Rs 6 lakh per annum—co-sponsored by the Government and industry—to do research on industry-relevant projects. Up to 100 fellowships are awarded under the scheme for a duration of four years. The areas of research supported under the scheme are science, technology, engineering, agriculture and medicine.
The anniversary celebrations saw the fellows of the maiden batch showcasing the synopsis of their research work through posters that they put up in the pavilion. In a session, planned especially for them, the PM Fellows interacted with top names from industry, academia and government. In addition to Dr Ramasami, among those present were Prof T K Chandrashekar, Secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board; Dr Naushad Forbes, Chairman, CII National Committee on Higher Education and Director, Forbes Marshall Private Limited. Dr Forbes is also a member of the Apex Council for the PM Fellowship scheme. Ms Sushma Berlia, Co-chairperson of CII National Committee on Higher Education and President, Apeejay Stya Group & Svrán Group; Mr Venkatesh Valluri, Chairman, CII National Technology Committee and Chairman, Ingersoll Rand India and Mr Deep Kapuria, Chairman, CII National Committee on MSME, Board Member, Global Innovation & Technology Alliance & Chairman, Hi-Tech Group of Companies also spoke on this occasion.
Elaborating on the nature of research which was required in the country, Dr Ramasami said, “There has to be a greater handshake between industry and academia in R&D. Research and innovation is no longer for literary satisfaction but for greater good—covering relevant topics that solve important issues, both social and economic.” He said through this scheme researchers will become more industry-ready. Also, by increasing the scholarship amount, research will become more attractive and economically viable. He said he believed that the contribution of academia and industry in this scheme was not 50-50 but 100-100.
Prof Chandrashekar lauded the scheme and gave details of the geographical and stream-wise spread of students in the first batch.
Dr Naushad Forbes emphasised on industry’s role in R&D and said that the time had come for research to start with industry and trickle down to academia. He said he felt that there had been much talk in the industrial circle regarding collaboration with academia, and industry should now take the responsibility to drive relevant research.
Mr Valluri underlined the need for technological advancement and industrial R&D. He said if we wanted research to be economically strong, we needed to leap-frog technologically.
ciiblog 