Prof. P.B. Sharma gave a presentation on India's science, technology and innovation policy. He discussed India's long history of scientific achievements dating back thousands of years. He then outlined key issues for modernizing India's STI policy, including promoting interdisciplinary research and ensuring relevance to industry. Prof. Sharma also highlighted examples of innovative projects undertaken by students and faculty at Delhi Technological University. He concluded by calling for empowering universities to create scientific and technological advances through India's new STI policy.

1. India’s Science, Technology
and Innovation Policy –
Making Incredible India a
Super STI Power
Prof. P.B. Sharma
Vice Chancellor
Delhi Technological University
Govt. of NCT Delhi
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

2. India’s Glorious Track Record
of S&T Innovations
ith a history of advanced S&T dating back to the
Ramayana (Some 5000 BC) and Mahabharata
(around 3000 BC), India has a deep rooted tradition
of cultivation of Scientific Knowledge and
technological innovations.
etallurgy, shipbuilding, town planning and
architecture, sophisticated guided missiles and
chemical warfare, fine art and carvings, metallic
jewellery, coloured rock paintings, avionics and
navigation on one side and rich knowledge of nature
and bioscience applications for human cloning are
as P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation onIndia. at FICCI – July 9, 2012
Prof. amusing as the wonder that was STI Policy

3. India’s Glorious Track Record of
S&T Innovations
 Capabilities like Rama Setu penetrating deep into
the sea, connecting Dhanushkoti at India’s sea
coast to Sri Lanka, floating of stones on the sea
surface, guided missiles fired by Ravana and
equally matched by the firepower of the highly
sophisticated warfare launched by Rama
including the Brahmastra, capable of devastating
a major portion of the universe are some of the
finest examples of S&T innovations.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

4. India’s Glorious Track Record of
S&T Innovations
 Goddess Sita, the daughter of the famous king
Janaka taking birth from an earthen pot, that too
buried in the open crop field, sounding like a test
tube baby of the modern times, 5 sons of Kunti in
the Mahabharta taking birth as tailor made
human beings, equally matched by 100 Kaurva
sons of Gandhari are the glimpses of a highly
advanced and sophisticated biotech development
of the Ramayana and Mahabharta period.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

5. India’s Glorious Track Record of
S&T Innovations
 Naturally all this was supported by policy
framework on S&T innovations that the
ancient India had which enabled the
creation of power of science and might of
technology together for the wonder that
was India.
 “Jnana Vijnana Samahita” – Was the buzz
during Mahabharata time as evident from
Bhagvad Gita.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

6. Post Independent India’s Impressive
Record of S&T Development
 Nehru’s Vision of S&T led growth and
development.
 Rise of DRDO, BARC, ISRO, CSIR and the
DST all owe to Nehru’s tryst with Destiny
propelled by his love for cultivation of
Science and Scientific temper coupled with
technology development.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

7. Post Independent India’s Impressive
Record of S&T Development
 For Nehru S&T were inseparable and often
interchangeable.
 For instance, at CSIR the emphasis was
on cultivation of science and the
development of technology together in all
its laboratories.
 Likewise, at ISRO and BARC the scientists
and engineers worked together with a
mission mode on each project.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

8. Post Independent India’s Impressive
Record of S&T Development
 India’s institutional arrangement for
cultivation of science and for the
development of technology was highly
impressive as compared to even advanced
countries of the world.
 Scientific and technological development in
India was also closely linked to the
paradigm of self-reliance in strategic
sectors.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

9. Post Independent India’s Impressive
Record of S&T Development
 The weakness of the S&T policy in
addressing certain core issues such as
energy security, environmental
sustainability, water security,
innovativeness of the core industry and
growth of India as innovation capital of
the world is however, well voiced by
many.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

10. 10 Major Issues at Hand
1.India’s continued march as the world’s
fastest growing economic power requires
easy and cost effective supply of
technological innovations driven by
scientific quest and service to society.
2.Scientific enquiry and scientific research
has to align to the needs of the society and
industry relevance.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

11. 10 Major Issues at Hand
3.The hubs of talent and innovative genius i.e.
the colleges and universities are to be part
of a vibrant ecosystem for S&T innovations
and techno-entrepreneurship.
4.Working in isolation is no more relevant.
India’s science and technology policy
should foster collaborative research, market
driven innovations and new product
development.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

12. 10 Major Issues at Hand
5.The recognition that the boundary between
science and technology has disappeared giving
way to technology tempered scientific research
and science based technology development. India
is yet to evolve such a mindset in its research
laboratories and universities.
6.Inter-disciplinaryness of science and technology is
yet another major issue today to meet the
challenge of quality, cost, technology and product
innovation cycle.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

13. 10 Major Issues at Hand
7.S&T as drivers of the growth of techno-
entrepreneurship infinite is what is
required and not just research
publications and completion of
research projects.
8.S&T as an enabler of the growth of a
civic society tuned to the objective of
serving the self, society and nature.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

14. 10 Major Issues at Hand
9.The dream of a developed and prosperous India
can only be realized when India has its billion
people engaged in cultivation of fair prosperity and
happiness as against unfair prosperity and plenty
of unhappiness as of today.
10.The ethical dimension of S&T developments and
professional morals of S&T workforce is yet
another, rather highly important issue for India.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

15. 05 Major Thrust Needed for
India’s STI Policy:
1.Promoting and fostering interdisciplinary
environment for technology innovations.
2.Major thrust on relevance driven excellence.
3.Clear emphasis on technology incubation,
new product development, growth of start-
up companies and technology transfer
needed.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

16. 05 Major Thrust Needed for
India’s STI Policy:
4. Policy framework for establishment of Knowledge
and Innovation Parks in institutions of higher
learning and technological Universities should be
an integral part of the New S&T Policy.
5. The new S&T Policy should not lose focus on the
emergence of the 3rd Industrial Revolution
powered by energy entrepreneurship for the
masses and penetration of knowledge industry
and manufacturing deep into the rural areas.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

17. Expectations of Academia from the
New STI Policy
 Support for research and innovations from UG level
onwards – support for student innovation teams, support
for participation of UG and PG students in national and
international Conferences.
 Support for world-class Design Engineering Centre and
world-class Test Houses in Universities and Institutions
of repute.
 Continuation of support for thrust area research
involving interdisciplinary research teams – jointly led by
faculty and industry associates.
 Support for international collaboration especially in areas
of high relevance to India.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

18. Expectations of Academia from the
New STI Policy
 S&T Policy as an enabler of the growth of New
Engineering (Mind Engineering, Medical Engineering,
Sports Engineering, Music Engineering, Molecular
Manufacturing, Nano Machines and Devices, Smart and
Intelligent Machines capable of surpassing human
capabilities, Rehabilitation Engineering etc.).
 Initial support for IPR Cell and Ideation Centres.
 Support for establishment of Technology Incubators and
Knowledge and Innovation Parks in Universities and
Institutions of High Repute.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

19. DTU – Lockheed Martin UAS Team
Designed and Developed Next Generation
UAV for Urban Application
Lockheed Martin - DTU,
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Team made a presentation to
the Hon’ble Lt. Governor Delhi
Shri Tejendra Khanna at Raj
Niwas. The inter-disciplinary
team of DTU has designed and
developed a Unmanned Aircraft
System (UAS) to cater for
surveillance applications in
urban areas. The UAV
comprises of a fixed winged
aircraft of approximately 12ft
span weighing around 36
kilograms equipped with
sensing, imaging and surveying
capabilities and could fly upto
20000 feets of altitude with a
payload of 17 kilograms. The
prototype has been flight tested
in Urban Areas of Delhi and
Gurgaon.
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

20. DTU UAS Team Scored 3rd Position in the
World Competition after Cornell and
California State University
DTU UAV Team returns from Maryland, USA scoring 3rd
Place in the AUVSI International Competition – June 2012
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

21. DTU Solar Car for World Solar
Challenge, Australia 2011
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

22. Glimpses of DTU Innovations
Solar Car Rally at Rajpath on 25th June, 2012
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

23. Formula Student Car of DTU for SAE
International Competition, Silverstone UK
July 2012
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

24. Making Delhi A Innovation Capital -
Innovations at DTU
Broadband over Power Lines,
BPL Network- DCE Initiative
with NDPL & MoCIT
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

25. Concluding Remarks
 STI policy to empower India with Relevance
led Excellence.
 STI policy to empower Universities to Create
Power of Science and Might of Technology
together.
 STI policy to foster a new era of Technology
tempered Scientific research and science
tempered Technology Innovations.
 Just imagine what DTU could have done if we
has a Knowledge and Innovation Park in DTU

26. THANK YOU
for Your Precious Time
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012

27. Contact Info
Prof. P.B. Sharma
Vice-Chancellor
vcdtu@dce.edu,
pbsharma48@yahoo.co.in
www.dce.edu
Ph.: 011-27871018, Fax: 011-27871023
Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, DTU at Stakeholders Consultation on STI Policy at FICCI – July 9, 2012