Union Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has asked scientists not to work in isolation but pursue research in coordination with all stakeholders for common good. <br/><br/>He inaugurated the 3rd edition of the India International Science Festival in Chennai today. Addressing the gathering of over 3000 people including young scientists, students,teaching faculties and international delegates, he said the present era is an age of innovations. <br/><br/>He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken huge efforts to promote an atmosphere of innovations in the country, to realize the dream of a new and developed India by 2022. <br/>Dr Harsh Vardhan said India ranks 6th in terms of global research output. He noted that, among all government funded research institutions in the world, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSIR ranks 75th out of 5200 such bodies. He announced that over 250 technologies developed by the CSIR are on the pipeline to be released to benefit the people of rural, tribal and far flung areas. <br/><br/><br/>Minister of State for Science and Technology YS Chowdary said capacity building activities are being carried on for women to increase their participation in research at least upto 50 percent. He said the compelxities of nature are being unravelled with significant contribution by Indian scientists. <br/><br/>Afghanistan Minister for Higher Education Abdul Latif Roshan called for a regional approach in undertaking scientific research. Bangladesh Minister for Science and Technology asked India to take the leadership in the region in pursuing studies for alleviating poverty, illness and sufferings of the people.