The National Technology Day on May 11, this year witnessed a digital conference with the theme of ‘Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology, and Research Translations (RESTART)’. Organized by the Technology Development Board (TDB), an autonomous organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a non-governmental, non-profit, industry-led organization, the event brought to the forefront key considerations for improving our future preparedness.
Strengthening Medicines & Medical Technologies
One of the key outcomes of the conference was the emphasis on the need to strengthen medicines and medical technologies. COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of robust R&D in healthcare as well as the possibilities that come with it. Experts believe the pandemic represents an opportunity to fortify medical advancements and innovation. This includes areas such as drug discovery, vaccines, diagnostic tools, electronic health records preservation, and more.
Examples of these include the development of the Aarogya Setu app, BiPAP ventilators, and use of combination drugs for treating COVID-19. Additionally, the adoption of preventive technologies like appropriate face masks and best practices such as physical distancing are recommended to be integrated into everyday life.
Use of Advanced Materials
Revolutionizing the industry’s product lines will require the use of novel materials such as smart materials, special purpose alloys, engineering polymers & blends, graphene, composites, and more. The conference highlighted that in combating pandemics like COVID-19, research needs to transition from capital-intensive to knowledge-intensive, bringing it closer to the industry.
Advanced Manufacturing Technologies for a Sustainable Future
Addressing both immediate and long-term problems, advanced manufacturing technologies present the industry with opportunities to reinvigorate innovation, sustainability, and employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated industries to transform digitally. Mass customization and specialization are the current global trends, with technologies like 3D printing playing a significant role in this transition.
Global Innovation & Technology Alliance
Virtual collaboration has become indispensable in today’s fight against the common challenge of COVID-19. The conference stressed the continued importance of collaboration between countries.
National Technology Day
India celebrates National Technology Day every year on May 11, commemorating the revolutionary nuclear bomb tests conducted in Pokhran on the same day in 1998. Initiated in 1999, the day is dedicated to celebrating the scientific and technological achievements of Indian scientists and engineers. The day is organised by the Technology Development Board of India, and this year focused on the theme – ‘Rebooting the economy through Science and Technology’.
Understanding Key Terms
In a business or industry context, “capital intensive” refers to processes that require significant investment to produce goods or services. On the other hand, “knowledge intensive” refers to reliance on professional knowledge for providing business services, where workers require significant education, skills, and experience to be effective. “Mass customization” is an approach allowing customers to design certain product features while maintaining production costs similar to mass-produced items.
