CSIR will be party to the fourth industrial revolution

NAGPUR: The new Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director General Shekhar Mande told TOI on Monday that CSIR has initiated the process of involving industry in investing in research and development.
Mande, who rose to the post of CSIR DG from a physicist and structural biologist and was on his maiden visit to NEERI in Nagpur, said that the first meeting of the mining industry was held in the city two days back. “I am meeting all major industries next week in Delhi,” he said.

“Somehow despite huge contribution of CSIR to the development of country it has remained an unsung hero. I am going to change that and bring its contribution to the forefront,” he said.

CSIR will help industries in creating jobs through SMEs. It will also incubate researchers in its labs and finance them to develop products for the industry. Mande also promised to fulfil the projects during his present tenure.

Mande feels creating 1 billion jobs by 2028 is the biggest challenge the country faces and this will be possible only through a national movement of converting ideas to business ventures, he added.

Also as vice president of Vijnan Bharti, Mande plans to uplift the morale of students and young scientists towards Indian science. “India has a very glorious history of achievements in Mathematic and Science. Till 18th century India contributed 24% of the world’s GDP but in 1952 after British left this figure came down to 2%. So encouraging scientists by giving past examples will also encourage them to choose science as their career,” said Mande.