The Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, recently said that the government plans to set up a dashboard to share best technology practices among the centre and states. Through the dashboard, states can emulate initiatives and achievements related to science and technology. The government will also create an app for the dashboard in the near future.
He made the announcement at the concluding session of a two-day centre-state Science Conclave at Science City in Ahmedabad. He also asked participants to appoint a nodal officer in each state to coordinate and cooperate with the Special Committee to develop and exchange the best practices. According to a press release, a high-level mechanism will be developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to monitor and coordinate the follow-up actions of the conclave.
During a special session with the CEOs of over 100 start-ups, participants came up with scientific solutions related to agriculture technology, drone technology, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnological applications, single-use plastic alternates, irrigation, and digital health. Several state governments have shown interest in the technologies and agreed to partner with some of the start-ups for state-specific technological solutions.
Singh also spoke about the Heli-borne technology launched last October. The states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana participated in a Heli-borne survey, a measure to solve the acute water crisis and help in efficient groundwater management. Heli-borne geophysical mapping provides high-resolution 3D images of the subsurface up to 500 metres below ground level and maps potential groundwater sources. Singh pointed out that if the same technology is uploaded on the dashboard, other states could learn and adopt the technology – from source-finding to water treatment, benefitting millions of people across the country. He added that it would also positively contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal to double farmers’ income.
Earlier this month, Modi inaugurated another Science Conclave in Gujarat. It explored state-specific technologies and innovations for adoption and scaling up through an integrated approach with support from the central government.
As OpenGov Asia reported, participants mapped the priorities, challenges, expectations, and technology needs of each state. Minister Singh said that the states can work in convergence for optimum outcomes with the six science departments: the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and the Department of Space (DoS).
A key agenda of the conclave was doubling private sector investment in research and development by 2030 and supplementing the country’s and state’s overall economy. Plenary sessions were held on technological interventions to improve farmers’ income, innovations for portable drinking water (including technologies like desalination), and Heli-borne methods developed by DST. Further, innovations for clean energy for all, the MoES’ Deep Sea Mission and its relevance for coastal states and union territories, digital healthcare for all, and synergising science with the National Education Policy 2020.
