World View ‘Nobel laureates’ Vibrant Gujarat interaction to bring FDI into India’
For the next five years, a group of 10 Nobel prize winners will participate in interactive discussions, exhibitions for India’s benefit
NEW DELHI: There have been instances of one or two Nobel laureates (Nobel prize winners) visiting India every year. Now, it has been decided that for the next five years, a group of about 10 Nobel laureates will go to India annually and participate in interactive discussions and exhibitions. They will not only inspire young Indians, but will stimulate the knowledge economy by inspiring our entrepreneurs to take up research and development (R&D) projects. The union department of biotechnology contacted Nobel Media AB (which develops and manages programmes of the Nobel Prize). Now, nine Nobel laureates have confirmed their participation in this year’s Vibrant Gujarat event. The laureates will then visit Delhi and Bengaluru too.
On how laureates can bring in FDI
There will be a lunch meeting of nine Nobel laureates, global chief executive officers and the Prime Minister. Top executives from companies such as Gilead Sciences, Takeda, SAAB, Volvo and 3M, among others are likely to be present.
I am absolutely sure that this initiative will bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) to Gujarat and elsewhere. The Nobel laureates will be asked two questions. What India can do and, most importantly, what you can do for India? And then there will be a follow-up mechanism. More investments may come in drug discovery, cyber-physical systems, robotics, nano-science or new materials.
On India’s position in science, R&D and tech
In generic drugs with no patent, India is a world leader. India can take on the international market because it can make those drugs at a fraction of their cost elsewhere. But when it comes to new drugs and new vaccines, India has a long way to go. The new technologies are such that they can steal jobs. So India must have ways to use technologies and create more jobs. Gujarat has already decided to move from an entrepreneurial state of established technologies to one of new technologies as these will be the core of the new industrial revolution.
The other states will also move that way.