'Foreign tech influx smothering Indian science' - Times of India

KOLKATA: Scientific research and technology development in India has been smothered by the influx of foreign technology in the past decade, feels Bhabha Atomic Research Centre director Sekhar Basu. "In the last 10 years, Indian science and technology has gone back by 10 years. The quest to develop our own technological capability has ebbed. The adverse impact has been felt in science and technology and defence sector. We need to correct the imbalance urgently or give up dreaming big on science," Basu said. While India's gross domestic product has grown significantly in the past decade, but on the scientific front, there hasn't been much progress. "India has just become a huge market rather than a centre for technology and innovation. This is not acceptable,"" the scientist said on Sunday. Expressing concerns on the brain drain, the official was critical of the manner in which Indian scientists behave once they go aboard after being trained in the country. ""Once our scientists step out, they forget working in India. They have to become more mature and direct their energy on matters that affect lives in the country. Develop indigenous technology and products. Only then will India and Indian science make real progress,"" he reasoned. Accepting that India would have to source foreign technology to kickstart mega science projects as it was a decade or more behind world leaders in accelerator and other key technologies, Basu argued that unless India began doing things its own way, it would end up spending huge amounts to source technology without inspiring new products and technologies for everyday application. Following the Pokhran nuclear test in 1974, Indian science fraternity had been forced to develop its own technology and innovate as it was then faced with worldwide embargo on sale of scientific products and transfer of technology. Making a case for promotion of mega science projects to help India develop capabilities in science as well as engineering, Basu said the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) and Indian Synchrotron for Materials and Energy Research (ISMER) would also inspire youths to pursue science. While Variable Energy Cyclotron Centry is an integral part of the INO project that comprises construction of an underground laboratory with a 48 kiloton iron neutrino detector near Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics is driving ISMER project, at the heart of which is a 1.4902km long accelerator that may be built in Bengal, subject to availability of land. via Science - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEY1bgx595oRmkLPgubQ6b9UeTfNQ&url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Foreign-tech-influx-smothering-Indian-science/articleshow/20627575.cms

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 2954071