JOIN USTechnology has become indispensable in all walks of life today, and there is a need for elected representatives to be receptive to adopting technological innovations, said Dr Prahlada, vice chancellor, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune.
Speaking at the inauguration of a three-day international conference on ‘Technology Management-2012’ at the IISc on Wednesday, he said unlike China, India does not have many ministers who are engineers. “We need more engineers as ministers. The country is suffering owing to a gap between the research community, the governments and customers,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the chief minister, Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “Bangalore tops the international innovation list and provides the most investor-friendly environment in the country.” He also highlighted the key role played by the IISc in creating a benchmark for science and technology. On the proposal for a second campus of the IISc at Challakere in Chitradurga district, Bommai said he had cleared a Rs 127-crore drinking water project for the institute.
Richard Smyth, former vice president and systems general, Airbus and Aerospace consultant, France, elaborated on how successful technology management ensured investments are made appropriately and objectives met. “In technology management, one needs to take account of the processes, product and people to meet the objectives,” he said.
Prof N Balakrishnan, associate director, IISc, discussed the need to re-orient research to meet the needs of society.
As many as 100 researchers from across 22 countries will present research papers in technology management and its allied areas at the researchers’ conclave.