Science and Technology The tradition of Science and Technology (S&T)in India is over 5000 years old. A renaissance was witnessed in the first half of the 20th century. Today India is recognized as a globally competitive powerhouse in science and technology. More than 100 MNCs have set up R&D centers in India with a total investment of $1 billion. GE has its biggest technology center outside the US in Bangalore. The S&T infrastructure has grown up from about Rs.10 million ($223,000) at the time of independence in 1947 to over Rs.30 billion ($66 million). Significant achievements have been made in the areas of nuclear and space science, electronics and defense. The government is committed to making S&T an integral part of the socio-economic development of the country. India has the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world; 162 universities award 4,000 doctorates and 35,000 post-graduate degrees and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research runs 38 research laboratories and 50 outreach centers which have made significant achievements. In the field of missile launch technology, India is among the five top nations of the world. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is a multi-disciplinary setup comprising thirty eight laboratories and about fifty outreach centers spread throughout the country carrying out fundamental and applied R&D in practically all areas of science technology ranging from genomics to special glasses, aeronautics to oceanography research, polymers to proteins. CSIR ’s expertise and experience is embodied in about 5000 active scientists and technologists, recognized nationally and internationally, who are supported by over 10,000 scientific and technical personnel, working in an impressive infrastructure built up over the years with a present day cost of over US$1 billion. Over the years CSIR has developed over 3,000 technologies and licensed 1,500 of them to about 6,000 clients. The annual industrial production based on CSIR techniques and technologies are estimated at around $1.5 billion. In 2002,CSIR won 145 US patents and topped the Patent Cooperation Treaty listing of the top 50 entities in the developing world. Annually, CSIR files around 650 patents abroad and ranks amongst the top three entities from all developing countries in PCT patent applications. It has bilateral S&T collaborations with 30 foreign S&T Agencies. Atomic Energy The primary objective of India ’s nuclear energy programme is the development and use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes such as power generation, application in agriculture, medicine, industry, research and other areas. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has achieved capability in designing, constructing and operating pressurized heavy water reactor. India has limited uranium but abundant thorium reserves. The Indian atomic energy programme envisages building of pressurized heavy water reactors, fast breeder reactors and thorium based reactors on commercial scale, and also includes technology development relating to operation and maintenance of reactors, waste management, safety and environment monitoring. The average capacity factor of atomic power stations run by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) has touched a new high of 89%. At the end of December 2002, the total generation of nuclear power plants stood at 185,640 million units. The Indian nuclear programme includes research and development in the field of Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR). Most of the components of the reactor were manufactured in India. FBTR is the first fast reactor of its kind in the world that uses plutonium uranium mixed carbide fuel, designed developed and fabricated in India. The third stage of the Indian Nuclear Power Programme, for use of thorium for power generation, has already begun. Bhaba Atomic Research Center (BARC) has been developing advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR), which will use both thorium-uranium-233 and thorium-plutonium mixed oxide as fuel. Space India is one of the only six nations in the world capable of launching satellites. An Indian mission to the Moon is planned for the year 2008. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), under the Department of Space, is responsible for research, development and operationalisation of space systems in the area of satellite communications, remote sensing for resource survey, environmental monitoring, meteorological services etc. The Indian space programme also helps 500 small, medium and large industries receiving know-how and technology transfer. India has effectively developed space technology, applied it successfully, and is now offering a variety of space services globally. The data obtained from Indian satellites helps a vast spectrum of Indians, from fishermen to farmers to flower sellers. Satellite imagery has helped 100,000 villages in the country with locating drinking water sources. In 2002-03,a highlight of the space programme was the seventh launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on September 12,2002, which placed the 1,060 kg METSAT (later renamed KALPANA-1 in memory of the Indian-born American astronaut, Kalpana Chawla) in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). About a dozen Indian satellites are already in orbit, providing a variety of services. Oceanography The Department of Ocean Development formulates and implements programmes in ocean science and technology with long term scientific, technological, economic and geo- political benefits. It also formulates and coordinates scientific and technological projects for exploration and exploitation of marine living and non-living resources; and protection, preservation and conservation of its environment. While the Department of Ocean Development is directing its efforts towards the development and use of the ocean science and technology for national development, its programmes cover a wide spectrum of activities, including Polar (Antarctic) Science and Antarctic Expeditions that are launched regularly to carry out research in thrust areas of polar science. Biotechnology The development of modern biology and biotechnology in India, through several R&D projects, demonstrations and creation of infrastructural facilities, has made a visible impact and made significant achievements in the growth and application of biotechnology in the broad areas of agriculture, health care, animal sciences, environment, and industry. It is now culminating into products and processes. More than 5000 research publications, 4000 postdoctoral students, several technologies transferred to industries and patents filed including US patents, can be considered as a modest beginning. The Department of Biotechnology has been interacting with more than 5,000 scientists per year in order to utilize the existing expertise of the universities and other national laboratories.