The Union Defence Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony has said that Science and Technology is the key for the country's development and the Government of India has placed great emphasis on this sector by allocating more funds. Mr. Antony was inaugurating the DRDO-Bharathiar University Centre for Life Science Building at Bharathiar University campus in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu today. <br/><br/>He pointed out that the joint venture will play a vital role in promoting high level research in Life Sciences for the national and Indian Armed Forces in particular. Mr. Antony called for special efforts to encourage NRI scientists working abroad to return to India and convert the brain drain of the past into brain gain for the future. He said, as a part of this effort, DRDO has taken up aggressive efforts to promote recruitment of NRI scientists. He promised that the Ministry will allocate more funds for this Centre.<br/><br/> Mr. Pongalur N Palanisamy, Tamil Nadu Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry released the first copy of the compendium released by this centre on the occasion.