Dignitaries at the convocation ceremony of soa university.Picture by Sanjib Mukherjeepriya Abraham

Bhubaneswar, April 19: Avinash Chander, scientific adviser to the defence minister, said research was imperative for development and better livelihood opportunities.

He was addressing a convocation of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University here today.

The defence minister’s adviser is also chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. He underscored the need for choosing goal-oriented research topics relevant to national needs.

“Universities should emphasise on specific goal-oriented research topics, which are relevant to national needs and sometimes specific to region. One need not be enamoured of undertaking only blue-sky research, but also take up low-tech research and development leading to products required in high volume,” said Chander.

“New products have to be designed in a way that they become useful to common man. Our innovations have to create livelihood and improve the quality of life in rural areas,” he said.

“Higher academic institutes in India lack orientation towards research, as a result of which, their standing among the top global institutions is not very high. Standards in teaching have to be achieved and it is high-quality research that will push knowledge frontiers and evolve technologies for development,” said the scientist.

“Our country is one of the nations producing the largest number of science and engineering graduates globally with the emerging engineering curriculum inclined towards the multi-disciplinary sectors. The technical manpower available so much in abundance, makes India an ideal country for harnessing the engineering workforce for the myriad needs of the defence and civilian industries,” he said.

Chander said that in spite of its strong scientific and technical manpower base, India was still far behind in creation of intangible assets and ownership of patents.

“We have come a long way since Independence, from mere buyers of technology to those who have made science and technology an important contributor for national development and societal transformation. It is important for India to put its act together to become a continuous innovator and creator of science and technology intensive products,” he said.

As many as 3,257 students received their degrees at the convocation that included 25 PhD degrees, two president’s gold medals and 29 university gold medals.

Former DGP of Uttar Pradesh and former additional deputy general of CISF Chandra Bhanu Satpathy delivered the convocation address.

Besides Chander and Satpathy, four other eminent personalities from the world of science and literature were awarded the honoris causa by the university on the occasion. They included eminent scientist Kota Harinarayana, professor emeritus in neuroscience at MGR Medical University, Tamil Nadu, V. Nagaraajan, eminent poet, Sitakant Mahapatra, and former Director of IIT, Kharagpur, K.L. Chopra.