India should develop new technologies instead of buying them: Scientific advisor

Principal scientific advisor to the government of India, R. Chidambaram said on Thursday that India should develop the capacity for new technologies, rather than buying proven ones, which would become outdated anyway if they are not upgraded.

Chidambaram made these observations while addressing engineers and scientists on the opening day of the two-day Indo-German technology workshop in New Delhi.

The workshop was being organised under the auspices of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Germany National Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech).

Chidambaram told engineers that cooperation between the two countries will go a long way in helping India emerge as a global leader in science, engineering, technology management and innovation, according to an INAE press release.

He pointed out that technology consortia (association) within the country have come together to marry exceptional technologies and solve real technology challenges.

Citing one such example, he pointed out that for producing cleaner coal-based technology, special pipes were required, for which Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) provided its materials' know-how.

Similarly, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) produced the pipes for power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to modify plants it supplied to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

MIDHANI is a public sector unit specializing in specific metals and metal alloys manufacturing facility in Hyderabad.

Philip Petit, science counsellor at the German embassy, said German initiatives that begin in Indian schools extend to 7,500 Indian students going to Germany annually to pursue college education every year.

Baldev Raj, INAE president, who served as director IGCAR, said that INAE's technology cooperation with Acatech will address emergence of smart factories as also new technologies that will help analyse 'Big Data' for engineering applications.

INAE has similar arrangements on solar energy and clean-coal technologies with France, Australia, Canada and China.

INAE, founded in 1987, is an apex body of Indian engineering and science which promotes technology and its application in the country.