Political strategy necessary to promote nano-technology:Sibal

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) Looking at becoming a global leader in sectors like agriculture, horticulture and manufacturing, Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal today said India needed to launch an aggressive political movement that could bring about the required convergence between bio and nano technologies in order to tap the country's natural resources.

Mr Sibal was inaugurating the 4th Knowledge Millennium Summit: Biotechnology&Nanotechnology, organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

He admitted that the bureaucracy and polity and other wings of policy making in India have yet to understand the significance of convergence between nano and biotechnologies and other fundamental sciences as a result of which the country was lagging behind other nations.

The Minister said that until a coordinated and pro-active approach was adopted towards integration of advance sciences, the best of inventions undertaken by our scientists will fail to get project coordination work that will fetch the country higher yields in areas of agriculture, horticulture, food products and even in manufacturing.

He therefore, sought a paradigm shift in the current behaviour and thinking pattern of the Indian polity and its bureaucracy towards generating alliance and integration of advance sciences like nano and bio technologies.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who also spoke on the occasion, said the future would belong to those who adopt the amalgamation of nano and bio technology without any further delay, to increase their GDP.

The Defence Ministry and its other wings were trying hard to induct the technological benefits and scientific modifications that modern technologies have generated to enhance and further modify the country's defence capabilities, Dr Mukherjee said adding that the UPA government would extend all possible help to scientists who encourage research and development for the integration of nano and bio technologies.

CSIR Director General Dr R A Mashelkar, in his keynote address spoke about a multi-pronged strategy to attract newer investments in the field which are nature friendly. Dr Mashelkar said that it was well known that there would continue to be market and technological uncertainties but through public-private partnership and with government support and encouragement a confluence among the fields of science, engineering and medical engineering can be achieved.

Integration of nano and bio technologies would bring about increased farmer satisfaction and not only enhance the country's agriculture produce but also accelerate manufacturing without polluting and degrading the environment, he said.

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