From Chairman’s Desk: December 31, 2020

As we come to the close of the year 2020 that has become synonymous with the Covid-19 pandemic, the strengths and solutions of science and technology also became evident, from ‘tracing to treatment’. It has also been the year faced with challenges, to charter new paths. The National Education Policy (NEP-2020) unveiled during the year, followed wide ranging discussions across the country for new possibilities and opportunities. Further, the Science, Technology, Innovation Policy (STIP-2020) being formulated with multi-stakeholder consultations is also on the anvil.

Every organisation looks forward to new horizons, duly considering the mandate, resources, needs and potentials, to achieve excellence along with relevance. With a decade to go for the time frame of SDGs, it was felt an opportune moment to draw up a Vision for the Academy to realise the aspirations of the State with reference to major economic activities as well as societal ambience.

The Vision-2030 document has been formulated, with the goals of: Appreciation of science as innate rather than external, among the stakeholders for the desired ownership at all levels of society; Scientific literacy and technological capabilities for rural Karnataka; Facilitating experience of the S&T benefits first hand in daily lives; Coordinating the extraordinary institutional and human capital in the State; Enabling leadership role for the State in Science including research publications and public goods; Establishing STI-based novel enterprises and Partnerships; Building Interdisciplinary Consortia and Networks; Policy prescriptions for enhancing investments, both public and corporate.

 I am sure this will be a reference document for the plans and programmes of the Academy for times to come.

– S. Ayyappan

December 31, 2020