full issue - Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy

Current Trends in Biotechnology and PharmacyVol. 5 (1) I-VII January 2011. ISSN 0973-8916 (Print), 2230-7303 (Online)NEWS ITEM1083IIndian Scientists need to think Big – PMPrime Minister of India, Manmohan Singhurged Indian scientists to “think big” and “out ofthe box” for scientific advancement andinnovations in the country. Manmohan Singh saidin his inaugural address at the 98th Indian ScienceCongress organized at SRM University, ChennaiThe time has come to produce Ramans andRamanujans of the 21st Century as we usher inthe decade of innovation”. The prime ministerstressed on the need for better higher educationin the country and claimed that the governmentwas already moving forward in this direction. Hesaid that the government has paid special attentionto the growth of our university system. In thepast six years, our government has establishedeight new Indian Institutes of Technology and fiveinstitutes” of higher education and research. “Thegrowth of our economy, defense of our peopleand security of our people depends on scientificand technological competence,” and he declaredthe congress open. “Come back home, the countryneeds you”, that was the message for thousandsof young non-resident Indian scholars from PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the98th session of the Indian Science Congress.Singh also asked universities to open their doorsfor young scientists studying abroad so that theycan chart out a new research career here. Hopingthat “The Year of Science in India” would unleashenergies of our young scientists, Singh said:“Science is ageless, but our scientists must beyounger” The prime minister-a former universityteacher in economics-suggested universitiesshould be “more hospitable to creativity andgenius, and less captive to bureaucracy andprocedure.” The biggest conclave of Indianscience has 7,500 scientists, including six Nobellaureates, from across the world attended themeeting.India is a world power, can work togetherfor global peace: ObamaUS President Barack Obama said Indiawas now a world power and the two countriescan work together on issues like counter-terrorismto promote peace, stability and prosperity for thewhole world. The US President said he hasundertaken the trip to India to strengthen what isalready an incredible friendship that would be oneof the defining partnerships of the 21st Century,to build on commercial ties and strengthencooperation in bilateral relations and internationaleconomy. He said that the two countries wouldbe able to focus on issues like counter-terrorismin order to ensure that both the US and India aresecure well into the future”. Obama said that USand India as two largest democracies share“extraordinary” people-to-people contact andmore importantly share the same set of corevalues. He said during the visit he would be ableto continue to build on the commercial ties thatthe two countries already have and to strengthencooperation in bilateral relations and internationaleconomy. He also referred to the contributionsmade by the millions of Indian Americans andsaid they have helped the Americans appreciatethe Indian life. “Given that India is not simply anemerging power but now it is a world power, US