Science centres to support research in all States

Zonal systems will be introduced: Union Minister

Union Government will set up science centres and zonal systems to support research in all States, said Union Minister of State, for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Y S Chowdary.

The Minister was speaking at the inauguration of a day-long symposium conducted by Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS), to foster industry academia ecosystem here on Saturday.

The Minister said that Indian academia’s output has been low even as he stressed the need to improve the quality of education with an aim to better knowledge and skill levels of youth.

DRILS was established in 2004 based on a partnership between University of Hyderabad, Dr Reddy laboratories Ltd and the State Government.

Mr. Chowdary said that both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have to stress on research and development in the coming years.

Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of N. Chandrababu Naidu has been focusing on preventive cure for chronic diseases as studies show that research in this direction aims at towards improvement in citizens’ health. Even in Telangana there is potential for such research, the Minister said.

‘KCR born with platinum spoon’

“While Mr. Naidu is a proved administrator, K Chandrashekar Rao was born with a platinum spoon and not a silver one as he got Hyderabad,” the Minister said, adding the Telangana Chief Minister has been working to set up incubation centres in the State.

At the meet, the Minister also unveiled a DRILS initiative titled innovate in India, an interactive web portal which makes the institute accessible to individuals, scholars, entrepreneurs and organizations. The portal is meant to support people who have innovative ideas and need a guide, a lab, or a mentor.

In a media briefing that followed the inauguration, G V Prasad, CEO of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said that DRILS will offer industry partners incubation facilities for drug discovery. The research at the institute, so far has been supported by union government and Dr Reddy’s labs. Now the institute is looking forward to partnering with 15 to 20 industries which are interested in research.

Major part of DRILS research has been in the field of metabolic disorder and immunology. DRILS would also be the only institute in the country to use zebra fish for drug screening.

Source | The Hindu | 30 August 2015