The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee called on the recipients of Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Awards today (March 22, 2013) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it is for sure that the shape of India to come would be determined by youth of the nation. Science and Technology and Innovation would form the new grammar of development. He stated that India with a strong scientific and technical manpower has an opportunity to become a major knowledge power in the years to come. To make this dream a reality, we have to invest in research and development, he added.

The President said that India is a developing country and we need solutions to some of the most challenging problems of the society. He said that we need to find new technologies for meeting our food, energy, water and healthcare requirements.

Addressing the awardees, the President said that India would need a new brand of solutions designers and this is where they all could contribute. He said that India is a country of billion plus minds with billion plus innovative ideas and if we could ignite these minds and convert few of them in reality, it would bring glory to individuals as well as to the nation as a whole. He said that he was sure that the young scientists present would transform India into a league of nations, which proudly owns patents of new discoveries and products and in the process, making India emerge as a knowledge economy with its own solutions to its necessities.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Union Minister of Science & Technology, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy and Earth Sciences and Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Dr. T. Ramasami.