- Centre to boost scientific activity
http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B34D80E29-0423-4C43-B3FD-E2927C9A0FDA%7D&CATEGORYNAME=Chennai
Tiruchirappalli, Nov 11: The Union government would come out
in a big way to boost scientific activities, to ensure that
plans undertaken in the last 25 years come to fruition now,
Prof C N R Rao, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister,
said.
"Major initiatives taken by the government will roll out one
after the other," he told reporters here yesterday.
He said that a debate would come up in the coming winter session
of Parliament on establishing a new national research foundation,
through which there would be a revamping of all activities in
research centres, universities, individual or group activities
of Science and Technology centres. The government planned to
pump in Rs 1,000 crore to this end.
Release of funds for R & D, control, administration and monitoring
would now be handled only by the scientific community and not
by government agencies, he said.
The next initiative was to set up two major institutes at Kolkata
and Pune on the lines of IITs, each with an outlay of Rs 500
crore. These would go under the nomenclature Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research (ISER). The government in
principle had agreed to set up three more ISERs, he said.
Rao said the IITs at Kanpur and Chennai had been asked to admit
200 students each in basic science disciplines, utilising existing
infrastructure. Other IITs would soon follow suit.
As part of a national nano project, 80 major research projects
had been given to various universities. Eight units of nanoscience
and six of nanotechnology had been mooted in institutes like
IITs, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and other select
research institutes across India, he said.
To a query, Rao said that the recommendations of the Prof. Sharma
Committee on changes in working of universities would not be
put in cold storage. "The government is considering it with
utmost seriousness and implementation would be very rigid and
fast," he said.
The centre would soon set up 'Nutrino' laboratories – observatory-like
centres covered by several hundred tonnes of steel, 'somewhere
in the Nilgiris', Prof Rao said. The feasibility reports had
been completed, he said, adding that the Department of Atomic
Energy had been asked to prepare a detailed project report.
The outlay would be between Rs 300 and Rs 400 crore.
Rao said the government had instituted a fellowship under the
name of mathematician Ramanujan to encourage young talents in
science. Brilliant scientists would be paid Rs 50,000 in addition
to their salaries under the national Ramanujan Fellowship, he
said.
Under another fellowship named after Jagdish Chandra Bose, talented
working scientists would be awarded Rs 25 lakh annually as contingency
expenditure to enable them to buy equipment, books and for travel
abroad, he added. (Agencies)
Published: Friday, November 11, 2005
- India: Global R&D hub?
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=108365
Given its low-cost advantage, talented and large pool of manpower,
India is developing into the research and development centre of
the world
Harsimran Singh
I ndia with its low cost advantage, high talent and large manpower—is
it becoming the R&D hub of the world? Global majors like Cisco,
IBM, Intel, AMD, Texas Instruments, Alcatel, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems,
Pfizer, Honda, Roche, Bayer AG, Cummins and Whirlpool have already
setup their R&D hubs in India. Many other Fortune 500 companies
are slowly moving their R&D centres to India.
The director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research,
R A Mashelkar said: ‘‘India has the potential for becoming the number
one knowledge-producing centre in the world by 2025, going by the
way things are moving.’’
In this world of high competition, low cost and highly talented,
labour pool is what differentiates India from other countries like
the US, China, Russia or Hungary. The cost of a researcher in India
is one-fifth of that in the US. According to a report by Evalueserve,
the salary of a chip designer with a Master’s degree and five-years’
experience in India, is about $1,500 pa as compared to $7,000 per
annum in the US.
Prasad Medury, MD, Silicon Graphics Systems, India, said: ‘‘Given
the gradual ageing of the workforce in the West and also in most
Asian countries (including China), India’s pool of young scientists
and engineers could be a major global option to do R&D work in the
future. They represent the new knowledge economy which we can expect
to dominate in the next few decades.’’
Annual labour costs incurred for a senior engineer ranges from $150,000
to $ 200,000 in US, while in India an equivalent engineer costs
just about $30,000-$40,000. This amounts to be one-fifth of what
it would cost in the US. This translates to a saving of 30%-40%
- even after accounting for the hidden costs of managing offshore
units. According to a research by McKinsey Global Institute, India
has the lowest labour cost for university-educated employees amongst
the 16 countries, it studied. Additionally, Indian graduates work
for the longest hours.
An Indian graduate works on an average 2,350 hours a year as against
their US and German counterparts, who work for 1,900 and 1,700 hours,
respectively. India offers lower construction costs and overheads,
in addition to the lower salaries of administrative staff. Savings
realised on construction costs are estimated to be in the range
of 25%-30%.
In the US, overheads account for 17% and the capital expenditure
on the construction of research laboratories account for 4% of total
R&D cost. But lower salaries in India’s R&D is encouaraging people
to migrate. In US, 38% of doctors and 12% of scientists are Indians.
About 36% of the scientists at Nasa are Indians. And 34% of Microsoft’s
workforce and 20% of scientists at Intel are of Indian origin.
Indians also constitute the largest number of foreign-born residents
in the US with degrees in science and technology. The number of
Indians with PhDs in science and technology in the US is the highest
followed by Chinese, Germans and Filipinos. R&D investment in India
also generates higher value per dollar spent as compared to any
other country. As a result MNCs find it advantageous to invest in
the India. Recently, Cisco announed an investment of $1.1 billion
in India, the largest single investment by Cisco outside of US,
much of which is slated to go into R&D.
Amongst key sectors for investment from industry, IT sector comprises
the maximum share and is witnessing the highest CAGR at 32%. The
IT R&D outsourcing market in India is expected to reach $9.1 billion
in 2010 from $1.3 billion in 2003. The R&D market in Telecom is
projected to grow from $0.7 billion in 2003 to $4.1 billion in 2010
registering a CAGR of 28.7%. Chip design, network security, wireless,
embedded and nanotechnology remain the key R&D areas in IT and Telecom
sectors.
All the top global IT and Telecom companies are busy moving their
R&D to India. Google, the world’s largest search engine, is set
to open an R&D centre in Bangalore. Leading web portal Yahoo also
carries out R&D work in Bangalore. US-based chipmaker Intersil is
setting up a design centre in Bangalore. IBM has set up a research
lab in Delhi to tap Indian talent, one of eight such labs in the
world. It has 70 researchers in India. Mobile phone giant Nokia
plans to set up a R&D hub in India. Intel conducts 15-25 per cent
of its R&D outside the U.S. Its worldwide R&D head count is more
than 5,000, with approximately.
Agilent has 1,000 professionals working in its R&D center in Gurgaon.
Agilent does cutting edge work from India in areas of RF design,
ASIC design, and HF mixed signal application design.
The pharma story
Apart from IT, pharmaceutical industry is also witnessing a major
spur in R&D. The R&D expenditure in the industry is projected to
reach Rs 1,500 crore by 2010 from Rs 220 crore in 1997-98. Many
pharma companies in India are spending over 8% of their revenues
in R&D. Custom synthesis, medicinal chemistry and clinical studies
remain the primary focus in the R&D area.
New drug discovery research can be conducted in India at a cheaper
rate. A case in point which can be mentioned here is Eli Lily, which
conducts clinical trials in India at a large scale.Glaxo SmithKline
also intends to conduct R&D in the country for its highly specialised
vaccines for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Biotech R&D Biotechnology
is emerging as the next strongest driver of growth after IT. Biotech
in India accounted for almost 2% of the global biotech market in
2003. Over the next five years it is estimated to capture 10% of
the global market.
The biotech research plan outlay which was only Rs 6.2 billion in
the ninth five-year plan has been doubled to Rs 14.5 billion in
the tenth-plan. Indian biotech R&D market is slated to touch $3
billion by 2010. Companies like Biocon, Shantha Biotechniques, Avesthagen
Gengraine, Panacea Biotech, Nicholas Piramal and Reametrix are making
a global name for themselves. Sensing the oppurtunity, India’s largest
company, Reliance has also jumped onto the Biotech R&D bandagon
with its $25 million project - Reliance Life Sciences.
The auto sector
Although R&D outsourcing in auto sector is yet to gain pace, several
giants, such as GM have set up their R&D operations in India. General
Motors recently established its R&D lab - India Science lab in Bangalore.
The Government in India, contributes 65% to the total R&D spend
in India as compared to Japan, the US and Germany where governments
account for only 30-40% of the total R&D spend.
But still there is a long way to go. Mohit Shrivastava, AVP,
Evalueserve said:”R&D investment in India currently stands at $6.8
billion p.a., whereas Pfizer alone spent $7.9 bn in 2004 on R&D.
Around 3 lakh people are employed in the industry in India wheras,
the figure for China is 8.6 lakh. India produces only 6,000 PhDs
annually, which is one-fourth to that produced by US, annually.
A Ministry for Innovation and R&D can alleviate the problem. Research
institutions should be subject to an independent audit.”
Moreover, the number of publications from India is very low. During
1997-2001,India produced only 77,200 patents as compared to US,
which produced 1.2 mn patents. According to European Commission,
countries in the EU will require 7 lakh researchers by 2010. Nearly
50% of the present R&D workforce in the US will retire by 2012,
according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, there is huge
scope.
And this acute shortage in Europe and the US can be met by researchers
in India if we manage to improve our education system.
| The
Road Ahead |
Inaugrating the R&D 2005, India summit
at Vigyan Bhawan, the President of India APJ Abdul Kalam said:
‘‘Parents want to see their children pursue engineering,
medicine and administrative careers. But parents do not see
the pursuit of science and research guaranteeing a well-settled
profession. I have not found even 2% of students saying that
their mission would be science. To alleviate this problem,
a science cadre with attractive salaries should be created.
There should be a minimal annual intake of about 400 MSc and
200 PhDs in organisations like ISRO, DRDO, CSIR, Universities
and Atomic Energy institutes.
Similarly, private sector industries in pharma, IT, oil and
natural gas, power, transportation, agriculture should be
able to attract additional 400 MSc, and 200 PhDs every year
for carrying out research on frontier areas of science and
technology.’’ |
- Techies smile as PM promises to double outlay for the sector
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2005
12:09:33 AM]
NRI Special Offer!
MUMBAI: Scientists and technologists haven’t stopped grinning after
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced his government’s intention
to double the outlay for science & technology (S&T) to 2% of GDP.
He was speaking at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay
after inaugurating a Teraflop class supercomputer facility touted
to be India’s newest and fastest kid on the supercomputing block.
However, the fiscally conscious PM added a rider to this ‘grand
double’ announcement.
“We need to ensure that our economy generate adequate resources.
This is where our technology sector, and indeed each one of you,
has a role to play,” he said, to a distinguished gathering of boffins
and bureaucrats in the BARC auditorium. That only broadened the
grins in the audience. They had gathered for the Indian Nuclear
Society’s annual conference and awards ceremony.
“ We also need to devise innovative approaches to maximise from
each rupee we spend, given India’s financial constraints, which
cannot be wished away,” he said. Mr Singh also called for a national
pooling of resources and capabilities, and deepening of ties between
R&D labs, academia and industry.
- NID to map out school for new-age design
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=157278
Course will focus on blending technology with design to make user-friendly
maps. Express News Service
Ahmedabad, November 15: TAKING a leap forward in the arena of new
age design, the National Institute of Design (NID) is planning to
set up an Institute for Digital Visualisation in Gandhinagar.
In coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology, Surveyor
General of India, Dehradun and Survey Training Institute, Hyderabad,
NID has proposed to start a new course that will focus on blending
technology with design and make maps very simple and vibrant, informed
the executive director of NID Dr Darlie O Koshy on Tuesday in the
city.
“Digital geo-visualisation directly connects to public life. If
physical and regional maps are made simpler and compact then the
masses will be able to use it in an effective manner for better
information,” said Dr Koshy. While the institute is yet to send
a proposal for clearance to the ministry, Dr Koshy said that designing
modules for the unique course could cost over Rs 5 crores.
Stressing on the need to promote digital visualisation intiative
as a full-time course, the director of Survey Training Institute,
Brigadier Vinai Singal who is in city to attend the two-day workshop
on ‘Geo-visualisation for better spatial planning,’ informed that
the details of the new institute are being discussed. “Our idea
is to ensure that surveys that are conducted by various research
centres and institutes are simplified and made interesting for the
common man to look at and understand specific details,” added Singhal.
The post-graduate course will involve creating a vast data network
on which the students could work. Besides they will be trained in
conducting surveys, making data simpler and also creating maps in
3D formats.
“There is an untapped market for students trained in geo-informatics
and Global Positioning Systems. The challenge is not just to cater
to the demand but also to assimilate and simplify various designs
for the common man to understand and make use of it.
- ISRO Chairman stression of high-tech for grass root development
Bangalore | November 10, 2005 4:32:33 AM IST
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=158446&n_date=20051110&cat=India
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman G Madhavan
Nair stressed for utilisation of high-tech technology for development
at the grass root level. Speaking after inaugurating a one-day
workshop on 'Monitoring and Evaluation of Watershed Development'
here yesterday, he said there is a wrong notion that the recent
development in Science and Technology was high-tech and cannot
be used for grass root development.
He cited example of how telemedicine through satellite helps thousands
of patients in getting treatment.
The workshop was jointly organised by ISRO, ANTRIX Corporation
and Karnataka State Watershed Development Department.
The main objective of the Workshop was to disseminate and share
the innovative methods and best practices adopted for monitoring
and evaluation in a participative Watershed development project-SUJALA,
a Rs 675 crore World Bank assisted project launched in five districts
of Karnataka in 2001.
Department of Space has undertaken monitoring and evaluation of
the SUJALA using data from India remote sensing satellites and
conventional ground data. The World Bank has appreciated the ethodology
developed by ISRO/ANTRIX.
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