It was a momentous year for the Ministry of Science & Technology
and the Department of Ocean Development as the Indian scientific community scaled
new heights in research and development. Some of these achievements are listed
below.
SARAS- The Indian aircraft for the future
The test flight of India's first indigenous civilian aircraft
SARAS on 22, August, 2004, heralds the linking of small towns and remote areas
of the country. The fourteen-seater pressurized aircraft has been designed for
short take-off and landing runways for tropical countries, with a range of 900
kms and cruise speed of 450 kms/hour. The multi role aircraft is aptly suited
for ambulance services, troop transport, surveillance, air taxi and feeder airline.
Development of SARAS is a unique example of synergy among multiple government
agencies, public and private industrial organizations.
A New Anti-TB Drug After 40 Years
A leading Mumbai based Indian pharmaceutical company partnering
with four R&D institutions has developed a new therapeutic anti-tuberculosis
molecule 'sudoterb'. The molecule makes it possible to clear the total infection
in two months time from the current level of 6 to 8 months. An Investigational
New Drug (IND) application has been filed for clinical trials on human beings.
Bio-Suite: The First Indian Global Bioinformatics Product
India's leading IT company in collaboration with 18 of the
best of academic and R&D institutions launched globally a portable, versatile,
cost effective bioinformatics package for genomics and rational drug design.
The soft ware will enable Indian R&D laboratories and small entrepreneurs
to undertake bioinformatics activity.
New models of public-private partnership in biotechnology have
been formulated for accelerating research & development, technology perfection,
absorption, and commercialization. Over 20 projects in the areas of development
of drugs, vaccines and diagnostics are under consideration
Diagnostic Kit for Japanese Encephalitis
An ELISA system for Japanese Encephalitis has been developed
through collaborative work between two public funded R&D institutions and
a medical college. A Bangalore-based biotech company has commercialized the
product as a diagnostic kit named 'JEV CheX'.
Eco-friendly biopesticides
Two biopesticide formulations named 'Nirmal Bio Prahar' for
management of agriculture crop pests and 'Nirmal Bio-Wooly Kill' for sugarcane
weevil developed at International center on biotechnology, Delhi have been commercially
launched by a small Indian private entrepreneur.
Bamboo Applications Mission
Bamboo, a hardy grass is a renewable resource and has wide
range of applications. It grows on several million hectares of forestland and
private plantations. National Mission for Bamboo Applications was launched on
26th November 2004. The emphasis is on innovative applications and markets.
Bamboo applications for low cost earthquake resistant housing, wood substitutes,
composites and energy generation have been developed through S&T interventions.
Large-scale demonstration and proliferation of the products has been taken up
for generating income, employment and empowerment at the grass root level.
Nano-Science and Technology Mission
Nano materials are finding all-pervasive applications in medicine,
electronics and industry. Based on the tenable R&D capacity, a Technology
Mission to realize the benefits of this emerging field for the people of India
is ready for launching.
National Mission on Tuberculosis
Every year, 2 million persons in India develop TB. A massive
national tuberculosis prevention programme is operational. The current therapy
requires uninterrupted treatment of 9 months leading to significant drop out
rate. An inter-ministerial mission is planned to develop new anti TB therapeutics
including vaccines and diagnostics to overcome the present drawbacks.
Other National Missions on the anvil are: National Mission
on Alternative Energy Resources and National Mission on S&T for Rural Economic
Advancement.
Monsoon and Weather Predictions
Indian economy is monsoon driven. Monsoon predictions play
a crucial role in the life of people. Indigenously developed statistical models
for long range forecast of monsoon are currently applied. Reliable prediction
of monsoon still remains a formidable and challenging task. To overcome the
current limitations, large-scale upgradation of the observational systems has
been taken up for enhancing the number and distribution of observatories, increasing
the number of automatic weather stations and acquiring advanced computational
facilities. This will enable better weather forecasting at district level.
The government has also set up coordination mechanisms for
synergizing dispersed institutional efforts for devising improved weather prediction
models for medium range (14-21 days) at district level.
An integrated meteorological data reception and analysis system
of processed information has been made available on an ordinary PC to different
users.
Creating an enabling geospatial infrastructure
In today's world geospatial data is an essential requirement
for all developmental activities. The present regulations for mapping prohibit
the digital publishing of Indian maps with heights and contours in view of "Strategic
Implications". A new Mapping Policy formulated is under the active consideration
of the Government. This would facilitate the availability of diverse type of
geospatial data on authentic maps.
In order to realize this objective a National Spatial Data
Infrastructure (NSDI) is being set up to ensure the availability of standardized
geospatial data collected by various agencies through a single source.
Steps have been taken to provide GPS compatible spatial data/map
for motor vehicles in six major metros viz. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata,
Hyderabad and Bangalore to enable vehicle navigation and tracking. The Government
also plans to establish a comprehensive village information system that would
map local utilities and facilities and integrate this with other information
data sources for micro-level planning and development.
Mapping the Neighbourhood
Mapping the Neighbourhood is a unique programme recognized by the President
of India as one of the nine technological innovations of the year 2004. It involves
participation of the students in the preparation of maps of the neighborhood
using a hand-held computer coupled with Global Positioning System (GPS) and
indigenously developed GIS software. The programme at present implemented in
20 schools of Almora and Nainital districts will be expanded to cover 30,000
schools.
Rural Bioresource Complexes
A Rural Bioresource Complex (RBC) is a cluster of several
contiguous villages in which economically viable and ecologically compatible
technologies are provided to the people for their economic empowerment. These
are being initiated at five locations in partnership with state governments,
Agricultural Universities, Banking institutions and NGOs
Mitigating drinking water problem
Islands and coastal rural areas lack sources of fresh water
and often times have limited sources of power. One solution devised indigenously
is to desalinate water by using the temperature difference between the surface
and deep sea-layers. A 5000 litres per day low thermal desalination plant was
inaugurated at chennai in June 2004 . A 100,000 litres per day low thermal desalination
plant is under installation at Kavarati. Deployment of barge mounted desalination
plants is also being considered.
Realising synergy of Public - private Partnership
Government seeks to craft alliances between Indian industry
leaders and publicly funded R&D institutions for capturing global leadership.
A few of the success stories are:
National Data Buoy Programme
Data buoys facilitate collection of information on oceans to
help improve oceanographic services and predictive capability of short and long
term weather forecasting. The indigenously developed data buoys give considerable
reduction in the costs and better operational life. The product was launched
on the Ocean Day celebrated in July, 2004. The industrial production is being
explored.
Centers of Excellence and Advanced Facilities
In order to enhance India's global competitiveness in frontier
S&T areas, government has taken up the establishment of clusters and centers
of excellence for research and human resource development.
Facilitating food trade- GM referral center
Foods based on genetically modified (GM) crops such as soybean,
corn foods are increasingly being traded world over. The national and international
regulatory regimes necessitate detection of GM crop derived food. To comply
and build capacity in this emerging sector, a GM food referral facility has
been set up at the nodal Codex food laboratory at Mysore. R&D programmes
have also been launched for development of analytical techniques for rapid detection
of transgenic traits in GM Foods and products in 3 other public R&D centers.
Clinical Proteomics
Clinical proteomics is a field with a great potential for
drug discovery and development of vaccines, diagnostics and biomarkers. Three
facilities are being established in Delhi focusing on screening and identification
of individuals/groups for most of the chronic diseases.
Stem cell research and tissue engineering
Establishment of two interdisciplinary centers, one each at
Delhi and Pune has been taken up. Additionally stem cell research is being promoted
by forming city clusters involving basic researchers, clinicians and industry
at Delhi, Vellore, Hyderabad, Pune and Bangalore.
Centre for Biotechnology for Public Health, Faridabad
The center, with strong basic science and clinical research
facilities will speed up conversion of laboratory technologies to commercial
scale through Public-Private partnership. The initial focus is on vaccines,
diagnostics, biomarkers, therapeutic biomolecules for infectious diseases and
nutraceuticals.
Magnetic Resonance Image Facility For Brain Research
The foundation stone was laid for the facility in September
2004. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enables brain morphometric
(volume) measurements and to examine the neural correlates of complex human
perception and behaviour. This facility will be used by researchers from all
over the country for better understanding of brain function.
New Technology Demonstration Vessel - Sagar Nidhi
The construction of new Technology Demonstration Vessel 'Sagar
Nidhi is to commence in early 2005. The ship would act as a support platform
for various oceanographic research activities.
Strengthening International partnershipsGermany
To celebrate 30 years of Indo German Science Cooperation, the
German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder and the Indian Minister for Science
and Technology and Ocean Development inaugurated the Indo-German Science Circle
on October 6th, 2004.The Virtual Science Circle will provide an interactive
forum on various topics at www.science-circle.org. The Max Planck Society of
Germany and the Department of Science and Technology signed an MoU, launching
the new cooperation programme.
Indo-US agreement for biotechnology
A Letter of Intent was signed in June, 2004 between the Governments
of India and the United States of America for expansion of Indo-US collaboration
in Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development. The main objective is
to increase the range of safe and environmentally sound technological options
available for producing improved crop varieties with pest and disease resistance
and drought tolerance. The first meeting of the Joint Working Group held in
December 2004 identified joint projects
Indo-Us S&T Forum
The office of the Indo-US S&T Forum was inaugurated at
New Delhi in December, 2004 .On the occasion , a roundtable conference on "Indo-US
Public-Private Partnership in R&D Endeavours" was held in partnership with
FICCI.
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA)
The inaugural meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA)
Science & Technology Ministers was hosted by India at New Delhi. It was
a historic event bringing together three leading developing countries from three
different continents. It was agreed that cooperation may be strengthened in
the areas of: HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria; Biotechnology in health and agriculture;
Nano science and technology and Oceanographic Sciences
UNESCO Centre for biotechnology training to Asian countries
Initiatives have been taken to establish the Centre for capacity-building
and development in biotechnology in the Asian region. It would facilitate transfer
of knowledge and technology at the regional level and can be a hub of biotechnology
expertise addressing human resources needs.
Indo -Dutch agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in Biotechnology
was signed between India and Denmark in October 2004 by the Minister for Science
and Technology of India and the Minister of Science, Technology and Education
of Denmark. The specific areas for collaborations are agriculture and medical
biotechnology.
Cooperation with China
State Councilor of China and the Indian minister of Science
and technology have agreed to constitute a Joint Steering Committee to formulate
a plan of cooperation in the field of Science and Technology. The committee
would identify areas of cooperation between the two sides.
Serbia and Montenegro
During the visit of Minister of Science and Technology to Serbia
and Montenegro in October 2004 an inter-governmental agreement on science &
technology cooperation was signed. The agreement envisages establishment of
a Joint Committee on scientific and technological cooperation to identify specific
areas of cooperation
Indo-Israel R&D initiative
A statement of intent for industrial R&D cooperation was
signed by between the Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Industry,
Trade and Labor and the Indian Minister for Science and Technology to support
joint industrial R&D projects.
National Biotech Policy
An Expert Task Force has been constituted, under the chairmanship
of Secretary, DBT to draft a "Biotechnology Developmental Policy". Special
working groups involving diverse stakeholders have been constituted to prepare
action Plan in key areas of human resource development, industry and trade,
regulatory and legislative issues and public understanding.
Road map for Bio-informatics
Based on wide spread consultations the road map for development
of bio-informatics in the country has been prepared. The key elements addressed
are: human resource development, private-public partnership, inter-agency coordination
and industrial development.
Regulatory procedure for recombinant pharma drugs
A Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment &
Forests has prepared a draft to streamline the regulatory approvals of all recombinant
products in consultation with the concerned stakeholders. Various protocols
of regulatory approvals are under the process of finalization, which would be
implemented soon under the Rules 1989 of Environment Protection Act.
Year End Review - Ministry of Science & Technology and Ocean Development
