i love it when these no all NRIs do oodles of research (sometimes us lesser indians are never capable of) and come up with new theories on problems with india in this case scientists and researchers. I refer to the article "How India can produce big-bang innovations"
Since the author admits that he took the usual route of going from the IITs, through a PhD in the US, to finally working in sundry research labs he must also admits that he did gain something from the IITs.
A parallel example would be for me to denounce all "convent" schools in India because they do not teach "the realities of life". But the fact is no system, no institution, no country is perfect. The school i went to gave me the confidence to do many things in life although it was run by a bunch of "old fashined catholic fathers".
I think it would have made for a balanced article if the author had admitted what he gained from the IITs. Also if he think thnigs need to be changed in hias alma mater what is he doing about it?
If something is learned at MIT u were a graduate student. A graduate has to learn that whether he is from MIT or a private indian affiliated graduate college. Undergrad doesnot teach that to anybody, even at the prestigous MIT how to sell ur idea.
Sir, I admire your article and your thoughts. I wonder why you use the word 'Innovation' instead of 'Invention' though. The two are very different. With Innovation you can maybe make a Billion dollars, but, with Invention you can make a trillion. So why not 'Invention' ? The Title for your atricle is the very proof that 'We Just do not dare'.
We are so stuck with our 'Safe Route' syndrome. It starts when we are children. Safe education, safe games, safe career goals, safe everything...Lateral thinking is killed at it's root. I bet, even you took up a safe project for your PHD thesis ( no offense but, that is the way it is ).
Today, a career in R&D means working for some corporation with the goal to increase profits ( no real research here ). Teaching is the only other option ( no great results here either ). If we want to invent ( or atleast innovate ) we need to start by changing the way we think and free our children from the 'Safe Route' Syndrome...
The author brings out very strong points in his article, but there is one big aspect that he missed out on which is the role played by the US government through research funding and contracts to the universities and industrial collaborations. This large chunk of money is what propels most research in the united states. I am not familiar enough with the workings of the Indian government with regards to research grants and endowments to be an authority on this discussion but certainly innovation in India could do with help from the government.
The new generation Indian Techies and Proffesionals should spare some time not only to read, but propogate such ideas/articles etc. to MAXIMUM possible Indians for Motivations to Individuals as well as organisations.
i feel that this article shows a way with an example of the guy from BARC.we should not forget one thing that USA has money and we don't.Rest all the same with USA and Bharat.
95 % of funding for the IITs used to come from government grants and the rest from student fees. Why would the institute foster research, when they don't need it for their survival? It is only when the government grants are reduced that the professors will go out to find projects.
Why would the businessman want to invest in research when the innovation cannot be protected by patents? It is cheaper to buy technology from abroad.
Governmental research agencies have no accountability. Why would a researcher find useful projects when he has nothing to gain from it ?
India is just starting to get its ABCs of research right. Institutionalized innovation is still decades away.
i am surprised at the question raised by the author this article and who claims to be a researcher in science.
he seems to have no idea how progress & development takes place in any society. it is not a an item on the charity list of Nature that might happen some how as we have been lucky to have the bountiful nature full of flora (includes fruits and vegetables) & fauna.
it is the result of poltical and social activity in any society. if you look back on our history, you can not find anywhere anytime any leadership that promoted academic excellent (scholarship) and or attempted mass education. by education i don't mean mere literacy. illiterate can be educated. for that we must understand media of communication. after indepedence, we failed to use radio as propagating tool of informi8ng people. our industrialists never produced toys or tools for domestic use as is done overseas. our ambassadors/high commissioners remained blind to the industrial, social, academic, rural/urban activities germinating in the western countries and advising the national govt. back home. our universities have failed us in laying the foundation of priority/importance of mechanical engg. schools?
1. Why didn't you know about innovation dynamcis at IIT? Answer: Well, this subject is very well known to the management department of the IITs and that is where I learnt this stuff while doing my masters in management. Unfortuately the management department doesn't interact with other departments.
2. The theory says there are several stages in innovation such as lab ideas, concept testing, product design, product development, process design, marketing, production, etc. At each succeeding stage the money involoved increases. Indians discard the ideas at the first stage itself, usually under the influence of famous writers like Meera Nanda who rule out any relevance of our ancient knowledge to scientific temper. Then we buy the finished goods of science/technology at high prices from west.
