Prez makes a pitch for industries to back research efforts

Emphasising upon the importance of basic research and innovation, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said the industry should join the efforts to achieve excellence in education and science. "While you are celebrating 100 years of your prestigious institution...dear students and esteemed faculty members, I will urge you to look into this aspect that we are lagging far behind in basic research, innovation.

"And we can not achieve excellence in education if this aspect is neglected...," he said after inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the Osmania University here.

The country cannot achieve excellence in science and education without promotion of research and innovation, he said. Recalling a conversation he had with the director of IIT Kharagpur, the president said he was told that students taking up research in India was inadequate though the institute achieved almost 100 per cent campus recruitment. Mukherjee said educational institutions could not be blamed for the country lagging behind in research and innovation.

"The industry should also join the efforts to encourage research and there should be an interaction between the industry and the academic institutions. I do not blame academic institutions alone. Because, substantially it requires uninterrupted flow of funds. And it comes either from government or from industry.

"State funding is not possible to the extent it requires. Industry must come forward. There must be an interface between the industry and the academic institutions," he said.

The president suggested that the industry develop an interest in education, research, advancement of science and development. "Then we will occupy our rightful place in the international community. We cannot live in isolation," he said.