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25/08/24 22:27 PM IST

Cabinet clears Vigyan Dhara, biotech initiatives

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  • The Centre approved two key science initiatives to strengthen the research base and accelerate search for science and technology solutions to some of the country’s pressing needs in sectors like clean energy.
Vigyan Dhara
  • Vigyan Dhara, for example, merges several existing DST schemes including the INSPIRE programme that works to attract young talent to science research.
  • Vigyan Dhara has three broad components — human and institutional capacity building, research and development, innovation and technology development, and also deployment. Existing schemes would fall under one of these components.
  • There are two big benefits of Vigyan Dhara. DST gets the flexibility to reorient schemes within the broad framework of achieving the three objectives.
  • This can include reallocation of funds as well… The second thing is the ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation, a newly created institution) is creating its own programmes.
  • It is important to avoid duplication of work and energy. The flexibility of the DST to refashion its existing programmes helps in this as well.
  • On biotechnology side, the new initiative aims to support innovation-driven research and development across six thematic areas.
  • The first will focus on bio-chemicals, bio-enzymes, and bio-polymers, which will mainly have industrial, consumer, and scientific applications.
  • The second pillar will focus on smart proteins and functional foods.
  • The second pillar will focus on developing functional foods that can complement land-based food production, thereby reducing pressure on land resources.
  • The third will focus on bio-therapeutics. Targeted therapy is emerging as the cutting-edge treatment for several genetic conditions and cancers.
  • The fourth will focus on agriculture, supporting development of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides.
  • This will help make agriculture resilient and also reduce levels of chemicals in foods.
  • The fifth will focus on developing bio-fuels and bio-chemicals, especially those that are developed from captured carbon emissions.
  • This will help in creating a circular economy.
  • And, last area was marine and space application to focus on developing products from marine ecosystems.
Source- Indian Express

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