Minister for Science and Technology Om Prakash Sakhlecha has said that researches and development in science will be utilized in strengthening Micro, Small and Medium industries in the state, so that their benefits reach the general public.

Sakhelcha was addressing the webinar on the subject Science, Technology and Innovation Policy-2020 of India’, held at Vigyan Bhavan.

The Minister said that the basic objective of science is peace and prosperity. Exploration and research in science originated from India and an important role will also be played by India in determining the future structure of the country. The importance of India has surged in the world and today our country has joined the countries, leading in science and technology. The state government is ready to exert full strength to make Madhya Pradesh, a leader in science and technology.

The webinar was organized under the joint aegis of Madhya Pradesh Council of Science & Technology (MAPCST) and Vigyan Bharti.

The National General Secretary of Vigyan Bharti, Jayant Sahastrabuddhe said that views have been invited from every section of the society to prepare the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy-2020 of the state.

The Advisor and Group Head, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, Akhilesh Gupta, while making a presentation on the subject 'Science, Technology and Innovation Policy-2020 and Expectations from States' said that there is a need to connect science and technology with industries and society. He said that we are at third position in the world in the publication of Research Journals. We are at third place also in the field of start ups.

Gupta said that we have made four tracks for participation in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy- 2020. In Madhya Pradesh, Anil Kothari, the Director General of the MAPCST, Bhopal has been made the nodal officer.

The Director General of the Council Anil Kothari, Director IISER, Bhopal Prof Shiva Umapati, Director, AIIMS, Bhopal Saran Singh, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal Avinash Kumar Shrivastava, Vice Chancellor RGPV, Bhopal Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta and other expressed their views during the deliberations.