OREANDA-NEWS. Addressing the 70th Foundation Day function of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), one of the oldest science research institutes in the country set up in 1944 by the then Nizam of Hyderabad here in Hyderabad (Telangana) today, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State ,Science & Technology and Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), MoS in Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Department of Personnel and Training, Atomic Energy and Space said that Government is committed to increase the funding for scientific research and also invited the Indian industry to contribute more for research and development. Government will also encourage Public Private Partnership (PPP) in view of the emerging areas of innovation, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, IICT Hyderabad has also set up a Biotech Incubation Centre and in this way various scientific institutions based in Hyderabad could coordinate with each other to develop this city as a knowledge hub of India.

Scientific researchers are the real nation builders, said Dr Jitendra Singh, who work day and night away from the limelight of media or public and remain unaffected by upheavals in their surroundings and observed that one of the best examples of this is the IICT at Hyderabad which was set up at a time when on the one hand World War II was going on and back home Quit India Movement was at its peak but inspite of all this, the then Nizam of Hyderabad and group of his advisors demonstrated the vision to set up such an institute for the benefit of future generations.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that over the last seven decades, the IICT and other establishments of the CSIR have not only fulfilled the academic appetite of researchers but have also created technologies which have contributed to the economy of the nation.

Referring to US-India Consortium lead by Hyderabad's IICT, Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosed that presently, eleven partnering institutes and the University of Florida are leading the programme from US side.

Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Venkaiah Naidu, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, said that this institution is the pride of Hyderabad. He emphasized the need to have more women working in the area of science and technology.

Shri Venkaiah Naidu said that though he himself is not a student of science but he understands the value of science for the benefit of the society.

Dr. Lakshmi Kantam, Director of IICT Hyderabad, Senior Scientists Dr. Ahmed Kamal and Dr. R B N Prasad also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, Dr. Jitendra Singh presented CSIR - IICT Foundation Day awards to eminent scientists and also released a book titled "CSIR-IICT@70 years".