DECADE OF INNOVATIVE INDIA: KEY ELEMENTS TO ACHIEVE IT
DECADE OF INNOVATIVE INDIA : KEY ELEMENTS TO ACHIEVE IT
(CII Seminar on 16th November 2011 – Concluding Remarks by Y S Rajan)
Dear Sam Pitroda, Prof. Samir Brahmachari, Dr. Nishad Forbes, distinguished participants and members of the media, it is a pleasure to be in the event organised by CII. I am happy to see that Technology group of CII is growing remarkably well and has now touched all aspects of the Indian Innovation Ecosystem.
With the distinguished speakers in the dais who have spoken already and others to follow, I will limit my concluding remarks of the inaugural to a few points
I desire to place before you, three points: FIRST ONE, is that we in India have to learn to differentiate between KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION. Most of our academic and S&T system are geared towards acquisition of KNOWLEDGE. Others admire it, are in awe of it, reward it, and celebrate it. Knowledge is a key element, no doubt.
But KNOWLEDGE tends to stand alone, and over a period, it can EVOPORATE. But INNOVATION Spreads, Diffuses, and Transforms the existing things.And above all, it creates WEALTH and NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
If we enable the overall national system to capture the fruits of INNOVATION, then every one will be prepared in advance to get into the transformed new businesses, services and applications as well as enjoy new life styles of consumption of products.
SAM PITRODA emphasised the need for reaching the BULKEY BASE. Only all round focussed innovations can make it possible.
Prof Samir Brahmachari traced the first wave of establishing a base for INNOVATION: It was around mid-1980’s with the establishment of institutions like C-DOT, CDAC, TIFAC etc. There was literally an Explosion of Innovation Bases. He showed a few examples from tractors to waste management to molecules to auto components.
Some of these early efforts benefited from the liberalisation and globalisation which started in 1991. The story is not over here.
Now I come to my SECOND POINT: While some initial govt/organisational support is required for creating A BASE FOR INNOVATION in a company (firm), or laboratory or institution or a service entity or an operational system like railways, shipping, hospitals, aviation etc., it is important to have COMPETITION. POST -= 1991 India provided that opportunity, though everything was not done in the best or optimal way. Many things were done helter skelter; still the competitive environment triggered many innovative impulses. These, always, did not capture on the strengths created furing the first wave of INNOVATION BASE.
But still Innovative India coasted along, if not accelerated and rise up in its trajectory. Therefore many of you present here may have mixed feelings. “When will we move fast? When will we reach new heights?†will be the dominant question in your minds. That is getting louder because many of you, now have realised that you are capable of INNOVATIONS and not just to acquire KNOWLEDGE and keep on discussing or publishing.
Yes, we all have to raise our voices; call for change of mindsets: we don’t need protection but we need our fetters removed!
In order to do that let us all REMOVE:
-Self pity
-Diffidence and
-“Hoga nai†attitude
And gear up for INNOVATION IN ITS TRUE FOR.
THIRD AND LAST POINT I wish to place before you: Let us arm ourselves and celebrate the three essential ingredients for INNOVATION, be it in individuals, institutions, industries, fields or market place etc.,
- COMPETENCE
- AUTONOMY and
- A GREATER GOAL
IN FIFTEEN YEARS, whole of India will be INNOVATIVE.
Thank you.
(Y S Rajan)