innovation centres and that is enough . It cannot be one or two centres . We need to create 30-40 institutes of prominence with good funding support . It has started happening but I think we need more .
The basic research has to be taken forward but at the same time as you suggested , the PPPs too can play a role . Yet I feel that these should be based on the lines of PPPs in Europe where the focus in more on translation research . The government must create an innovative capital fund .
One of the increasingly potential areas in India , is the medical technology industry . How do you analyse the trends and policy here ?
The medical technology indeed has good potential . Given the fact that we have a huge engineering skill base in India , we need to ensure that we create a right kind of environment for medical devices . We can become a manufacturing hub but not only the low end . I mean not just an assembling hub where you put a battery in the device and be satisfied that we are innovating .
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We have to do the cutting edge science . We have the core skills , national institutes and required fundamentals but what we need is the right nurturing . The future of human bodies would be driven by devices and robotics . If we miss out on these , we will miss the bus of future opportunities too .
Isn ’ t the Make in India a step towards that ?
I think we need to get our make in India slightly better . We should not deprive the multinationals their opportunity to innovate in our country just because we are running a campaign . If there is a cutting edge science from outside India and we are putting curbs on it , we are depriving the people of its benefit or knowledge of that benefit . So , in the areas like devices , the government must have adequate incentives to manufacture here . Government must ask MNCs about their feasibility to manufacture in India and give support wherever possible . It can be also make in India and export globally .
Protecting domestic manufacturers at the cost of innovation is something where government will have to balance out . As an example base metal stent is cheaper yet not popular . So , you might manufacture it here in India yet not have as many as buyers . Even a middle class person will go for a quality one . We have to also understand that there is difference between older and newer medical devices . For example the device in 1940s was more about having an alternative to natural human part while in 2016 , it was like a digital device or walking computer .
Especially on science and technology including medicine , we have to be careful in not creating the walls for innovation .
Does the $ 100 billion Indian bioeconomy by 2025 target look feasible to you ?
There is no harm in setting up targets but we have to understand that the value generation happens with lot of sweating and realistic roadmap . The countries like Europe and America has got huge investments into their biotech sectors . Here too it is only the government which can do it . It has to start with the basics such as creation of strong knowledge base , skilled manpower and long term career option to
We cannot always remain in competition by saying that we offer a cheap alternative to labour cost . It will not work in longer run as more and more innovation is happening in automation technologies . lure the exceptionally talented workforce into the sector . A good manpower will keep us in the game .
Similarly , it takes 20 years to build a reputed company . It is not an overnight possibility . Industry must avoid the shortcuts wherever it can . We cannot always remain in competition by saying that we offer a cheap alternative to labour cost . It will not work in longer run as more and more innovation is happening in automation technologies . It will be smarter for the companies to manufacture in their own countries than to outsource .
Finally , I hope that this target is achieved and let us keep trying .
What according to you should be the vision for biotechnology industry in India ?
The vision of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was greatest for science . As a thought leader , he did a lot . In his speech to IAS officers at Doon Academy , he told the aspiring bureaucrats that the scientists first came , then doctors and their place was last in the line of importance . India has to follow this philosophy even now . Science has to come first .
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