From Chairman’s Desk: September 30, 2020

We are all in the midst of the unprecedented biotic disaster in a century, the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting our life and livelihoods. As a timely gesture, the KSTA organised a Meet on ‘COVID-19: Strategy and Way Forward for Karnataka’, in collaboration with Planning, Programme Monitoring & Statistics Division, Government of Karnataka, at Bengaluru, on 19 June, 2020. Senior functionaries of the Government, leading experts from different sectors of Health, Agriculture, Industry, Education, Science & Technology, Public Affairs and Policy took part in the discussions, along with stakeholders such as FICCI and KSNDMC. The output of the Meet has been published as the first Strategy paper of the Academy.

As being seen and experienced in the present scenario also, Science, Technology & Innovations have been transforming lives. In the process, partnerships and collaborations have become critical for fast tracking generation and application of novel technologies for societal benefits. With increasing multisectoral needs on one hand and vertical specialisations on the other, solutions have to be multidisciplinary and cutting across boundaries, whether subjects or institutions. Every enterprise is looking for innovations for enhanced efficiencies and reduced production costs, to be both sustainable and remunerative.

In this context, the KSTA, with the objectives of inculcating scientific temper across civil society, facilitating technology dissemination, fostering innovations and entrepreneurship for societal benefits, is exploring the canvass of partnerships. Possibilities of collaboration with institutions of repute, both public and corporate, in different areas of science, engineering and technology, are being accorded priority. Accordingly, letters of intent were sent to a number of organisations located in Karnataka, with a MoU format, that received enthusiastic responses with regard to joint training programmes, R&D efforts and related aspects. I believe, together we can make a difference. Let us join hands for contributing our bit to the society through STI and the spirit of partnerships.

– S. Ayyappan

September 30, 2020