The Government has stressed the need to develop the capacity of making the right choices of technologies for addressing the challenges of modern world. Speaking at a function in New Delhi today to observe the National Technology Day, Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh said said the dream of bringing the country into the club of developed nations should be a national and social commitment.

Speaking on the ocassion, the Chief guest and former President A P J Abdul Kalam highlighted the need for research and development in the area of basic sciences. He exhorted scientists and technocrats to work towards bringing India in the list of top 10 countries in the world in this area. During the function, Mr. Kalam launched two programs to boost development of research oriented programs in the country through Public Private Partnership mode.

The programs aim at achieving excellence in technology through public private partnership.
AIR correspondent reports Dr. Kalam also gave away National Awards on Technology to the industrial and individual concern for developing indigenous technology.

The National Award of 10 lakh rupees for the year 2012 was presented to Scanpoint Geomatics Limited, Gujarat for indigenous development and commercialization of Integrated GIS and Image Processing Software.