Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked the scientific community to keep an eye on the rise of disruptive technologies and be prepared to leverage them for growth. Inaugurating the 104th Indian Science Congress at Tirupati, he emphasised the needs to be addressed is the rapid global rise of Cyber-Physical Systems.

Stating that this has the potential to pose unprecedented challenges and stresses to our demographic dividend, he advised that we can turn it into a huge opportunity by research, training and skilling in robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, big data analysis, deep learning, quantum communication and Internet-of-Things.

Modi said that India will be among the top three countries in science and technology by 2030. Assuring that the government is committed to supporting different streams of scientific knowledge, he said, science must meet the rising aspirations of the people, and infrastructure and social welfare ministries must make use of it.

The Prime Minister said, India’s best scientific institutions should strengthen basic research in line with global practices. He said, tomorrow’s experts will come from investments we make today in people and infrastructure.

On the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility, he said that the concept of Scientific Social Responsibility needs to be inculcated to connect our leading institutions to all stakeholders, including schools and colleges. “We must create an environment for sharing of ideas and resources” he added.

The Prime Minister said, seeding the power of ideas and innovation in school children will broaden the base of innovation pyramid and secure the future of the nation. He said, the role of science in planning, decision making and governance has never been more important.

A number of eminent scientists, including Nobel laureates, are participating in the 5-day Congress. The theme of the event is, ‘Science and Technology for National Development’.