‘ESTIC 2025’
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 4 : Addressing a Round Table with eminent NRI Scientists and students through the 3-day ”Emerging Science, Technology,Innovation Conclave” (ESTIC 2025), Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh stated, “You are not outsiders — you are part of the Indian scientific family.”
The Minister was interacting with VAIBHAV Fellows from the world over, who supplied a spread of constructive strategies to strengthen India’s science and expertise ecosystem.
Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to as for reworking India’s engagement with its scientific diaspora from the period of “brain drain” to a mannequin of “reverse brain drain” or “brain exchange” the place information, innovation and concepts circulation seamlessly between India and India’s global talent pool.
The assembly was moderated by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, with Secretary, Department of Science and Technology Prof. Abhay Karandikar, , delivering the welcome handle.
VAIBHAV Fellows, representing universities and R&D centres from international locations such because the US, Canada, Sweden, and Australia and extra, praised the Government’s efforts to institutionalize diaspora engagement by the VAIBHAV fellowship. They shared sensible concepts for enhancing collaboration between Indian establishments and global Indian researchers.
One of the strongest suggestions was to create a structured mechanism for pupil mobility, permitting Indian college students to spend as much as a 12 months working with their mentors overseas and for host scientists to carry international college students to Indian labs — a transfer many stated would “extend horizons and nurture global talent.”
A recurring difficulty raised by a number of fellows was the necessity for simpler journey and convention clearance procedures. They identified that cumbersome processes for inviting worldwide audio system to scientific occasions in India typically hamper visibility and participation. Many urged for a previous permitted record of global college to simplify visa permissions and allow fast tutorial exchanges.
The scientists additionally proposed extending the VAIBHAV fellowship from three to 5 years, arguing that sustained collaboration takes time to mature and yield measurable outcomes. A fellow working in superior wi-fi techniques instructed a phased mannequin — three years initially with a two-year extension primarily based on efficiency — to make sure continuity and accountability.
Another sturdy theme within the dialogue was the necessity to develop “systems for India” — indigenous expertise options designed for Indian circumstances. Researchers in 5G and 6G expertise emphasised the significance of focusing not simply on core analysis but additionally on real-world system-building suited to India’s scale, density, and affordability challenges.
Responding to the wide-ranging strategies, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated the Government is eager to undertake most of the sensible concepts shared by the diaspora. He agreed {that a} simplified journey and approval framework for visiting worldwide college could possibly be a major step ahead, and stated that the proposal for a previous permitted college record could possibly be explored with the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Minister cited concrete examples of India’s rising R&D efficiency, together with the truth that greater than half of all patents filed lately come from resident Indians. He additionally referred to advances in biotechnology — from the COVID-19 vaccine to the indigenous HPV and haemophilia gene remedy breakthroughs — in addition to main house achievements like Chandrayaan-3 and plant biology experiments in house.
Dr. Jitendra Singh additionally inspired the scientists to assist construct business linkages for sustained innovation, noting that “it is easy to start a startup, but sustaining it requires robust industry partnership.” He pointed to profitable fashions resembling India’s lavender-based startups underneath the Aroma Mission, which have scaled quickly and at the moment are exploring worldwide tie-ups.
He additional clarified that the VAIBHAV fellowship interval is barely a proper construction, not a restrict to engagement. “Just as we don’t remember Gandhi only on Gandhi Jayanti, your connection to India should not end with the fellowship’s duration,” he stated, urging fellows to take care of long-term ties by digital collaborations, joint tasks, and mentoring networks.
During the deliberations, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space, additionally shared their views, highlighting the rising scope for interdisciplinary collaboration between ocean science, house expertise, and rising analysis areas underneath the VAIBHAV framework.