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BENGALURU: Union minister for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that the biggest challenge for India is to start owning innovations rather than being just contributors.
At the three-day Engenius Conclave organised by Unacademy webinar, in association with The Times of India, Javadekar said every major tech company always had Indian brains at its disposal and held a major market share in India or elsewhere.
“When we look at big names such as Google, Facebook or Microsoft, they all have Indian brains behind them. We are major contributors to any innovation in technology,” he said.
In a pep talk to students preparing to crack GATE and Engineering Services Examination (ESE), Javadekar said students need to look to wealth creation by realising their potential by taking bold steps to invest in technology.
Responding to a question whether the Centre is making progress in providing employment to engineers graduating in large numbers, he said one avenue is providing opportunity to bring indegenious technology to the forefront in the nations policies.
“When we launched hackathons, our intention was to build the capacity of our students to innovate and brainstorm to develop technology for solutions that dont exist in our country. Divided into teams of six and asked to work together for three months, students have been ideating for solutions. This will sharpen their minds and make them think big. Instead of seeking jobs, they can become job creators,” he said.
Javadekar said 5 lakh engineering students have participated in hackathons organised by the central government. Admitting that a lot of work needs to be done in changing mindsets, Javadekar cited a Bengaluru-based student who had innovated 5-D printing technology. “Along with the presentation, this boy gave me a brochure of 63 rejections from Indian industries and universities. Today, the same boy collaborates with 15 foreign-based companies and 16 universities abroad. We need to identify these hidden gems,” he said.
About the new National Education Policy, Javadekar said the Centre had held a long-term exercise in formulating the policy with noted scientist K Kasturirangan andRead More – Source
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