Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates four-day India International Science Festival 2017 at Chennai
Posted on: 14/Oct/2017 11:13:56 AM
Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan, has said that India is home to lakhs of grassroot innovators and it is important to empower them with modern entrepreneurial skills and assist them.
Inaugurating the India International Science Festival 2017 at Anna University in Chennai on Friday, the Minister said that National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF) will be organizing the Grassroots Innovators Summit, as part of this four day festival (Oct 13 - Oct 16).
He said the Innovators Summit aims to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge and provide a common platform for various stakeholders – from innovators, students, researchers to policy makers.
He urged the scientific community to contribute in realizing Prime Minister’s vision of establishing A New India by 2022. Detailing the initiatives launched by the Government in the last three years, Dr Harsh Vardhan said there has been a 60 per cent hike in the budget for Science and Technology.
The Minister lauded the contribution of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who laid the foundation stone for Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and recalled the important role played by the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in developing scientific institutions of repute. The Minister said eminent scientists like Sir C.V.Raman, Prof S.Chandrasekar, Sir Srinivasa Ramanujam, Dr Abdul Kalam, contributed significantly to the advancement of science.
Shri Y. S. Chowdary, Minister of State for Ministry of Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, welcomed the august gathering. The key participants at the grand inaugural ceremony included Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, National President, VIBHA, Minister of Higher Education of Afghanistan Shri. Abdul Latif Roshan, Science &Technology Minister of Bangladesh Shri Yeafesh Osman and Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Government of Tamil Nadu Shri. K. P. Anbalagan shared their vision on science and technology, while addressing the gathering. Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. M. Rajeevan, Secretary, MoES, stressed the need to translating the scientific knowledge to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth.
The third edition of India IISF 2017 is being held at Chennai during 13th – 16th October 2017 and National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT) is the main coordinator. The theme of the Science Festival is “Science for New India”. The events are held simultaneously at five venues Anna University (main venue), ESSO-NIOT, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research -Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), and Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). Stake holders from various fields, academia, industry, government, social organizations, school teachers and students to name a few are participating in the four-day event. On 13th October 2017, IISF 2017 kick started with grand inauguration followed by events held at various venues.
