Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged Scientists to think in terms of the common man and evolve solutions to the modern day challenges faced by the nation. Addressing the 70th foundation day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. Singh said conventional scientific disciplines and approaches were proving unequal to dealing with the complex developmental challenges.

Reminding the scientific community of Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru's words that Science must think in terms of the millions of people in the country, Dr. Singh said, that as India aims for global excellence and competitive advantage in science, it also has to be ensured that the common man's interests are taken care of. Dr. Singh commended the recent CSIR 800 programme which aims at affordable scientific inventions to improve the quality of life of the people at the base of the economic pyramid.

The Prime Minister said, inspite of its achievements including, emerging as the single largest holder of US and European patents and its unique attempt to make health care affordable, the CSIR still cannot rest on its laurels. The Prime Minister also called for mobilizing enough private investments into Scienctific research to match up to 2 per cent of the national GDP.

Dr. Singh noted that when India became a victim of technology denial, CSIR laboratories created advanced products and technologies, such as India's first super computer, radiation shielding glasses and components for aerospace and satellites, emerging as a credible partner for the strategic sector. Dr. Singh also added that he was happy to learn that the Council has opened its patent chest for accelerated drug discovery for hitherto neglected diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.