Collaboration b/w industry, varsities called for

Mumbai, Dec 24: Director General of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Dr R A Mashelkar has stressed the need for collaboration between the universities and the industry.

Inaugurating an international seminar on 'Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise' under the auspices of the Sesquicentennial celebrations of Mumbai University here today he said ''This collaboration can deliver the innovation for the benefit of society in which we live.'' Also, he gave a call to the alumni of the University to come forward and extend their support in this direction.

He expressed his concern over the decline in the Research&Development activities in various sectors of the country.

Reliance Industries Ltd CMD Mukesh Ambani, an alumni of University Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly known as UDCT) which had hosted today's programme said ''Science will have to be in the driver's seat if India has to progress further.'' He said ''We need to create a society that provides equitable opportunities for all its people.'' Moreover, we need to create a framework for private participation in Indian science, technology and education so that we can compete with other emerging countries like China, he added.

Dr Mashelkar presented the first UAA-Dhirubhai Ambani Life Time Achievement Award on the occasion to Prof George M Witesides, from Harvard.

This award will be given annually for notable work done in the field of chemical engineering and technology. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and is the largest purse given by any Indian scientific body, said a Reliance Industries spokesman.

UNI