BRICS nations Endorsed India’s Young Scientist’s Forum Initiative
India’s Young Scientists Forum Initiative has been endorsed by BRICS nations and BRICS STI has included it in its work plan for the period 2015 to 2018.
In the meeting of Science & Technology Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in Brazil, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences told, that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared India´s strong commitment to the strengthening of cooperation within BRICS in this key sphere of Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) which directly impacts the welfare and progress of all our peoples.
Establishment of a BRICS Technology Foresight for Climate System to address scientific and innovative solutions for climate change and natural disaster management while identifying viable R&D initiatives for the future was also proposed, at the second BRICS Science Technology Innovation Ministerial Meeting, held at Brasilia this week, by the Indian delegation led by Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
He told delegates attending the meeting about various measures being taken by the Indian government for development of skills among its large youth population. He added that the institutional framework established in the form of a BRICS Memorandum of Understanding for Science, Technology, and Innovation at the meeting will act as an enabling vehicle to take our cooperation forward.
He informed them about various steps for the promotion of innovation through allocations made in this year’s annual budget for the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM); it will be an Innovation Promotion Platform involving academics, entrepreneurs, and researchers and draw upon national and international experiences to foster a culture of innovation, R&D and scientific research in India.
Dr. Vardhan emphasised the importance of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as the major drivers of national development globally. The national STI enterprise is central to national development. A strong and viable Science, Research and Innovation System for High Technology-led path for India (SRISHTI) is the goal of India’s new STI policy.