Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to set up fund for innovation

Hyderabad: Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Dr Girish Sahni on Saturday said that an Innovation Fund of Rs 400 crore would be set up for helping scientific research done in its labs reach the public through industry. Dr Sahni said there were more than 2,000 findings patented by scientists at CSIR institutes across the country.  Many of these patents were restricted to the labs and failed to mature into useful societal contributions.

Dr Sahni said scientists needed money for pitching their results to industries. While the amount is not much, the process to secure the money from the government takes a long time. This can be reduced through the Innovation Fund from where money can be granted to deserving projects immediately. While the Centre is expecting CSIR institutions to be able to generate revenue for themselves, Dr Sahni said revenue generation had decreased over the years which needed to be addressed.

Dr Sahni spoke to media on the sidelines of 29th foundation day lecture organised by Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology. At the lecture, titled ‘Putting science to public use: A personal perspective’ Dr Sahni spoke of clotbusters, molecules which dissolve blockages in blood vessels, developed by him. The fourth generation clotbusters are yet to come into the market.  

Dr Sahni hoisted the monumental flag measuring 30 feet in length and 20 feet in breadth on a flagpole measuring 100 feet at the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology campus at Tarnaka. This is the third monumental flag in Hyderabad after the one at Sanjeevaiah Park and at the English and Foreign Languages University.  

CSIR to set up an innovation fund to cut down the amount of time scientists require to take their findings to industry. The Centre releases funds for the purpose, but it takes long.

CSIR institutions to start generating resources to become self-sufficient in line with Centre’s policy, D-G Girish Sahni says.