Indiasoft Opens: Focus on R&D in ICT to move up in value: Y S Chowdary

Hyderabad, Feb 13 (Maxim News): Mr. Y S Chowdary, Minister of State for Science& Technology and Earth Sciences underscored the need for greater interface among scientific community, academia and industry to take innovation ecosystem in the country to a higher pedestal.

The minister was inaugurating the 17th edition of Indiasoft, being organized by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) today in Hyderabad. Around 400 foreign delegates from 75 countries and 250 Indian exhibitors including 50 startups are attending the two day Indiasoft 2017 exhibition and conferences.

“Technologists, industry and academia should not work in silos. They have to work in a collaborative spirit to move up in value chain and to disseminate fruits of innovation among the society so that every piece of added information and discoveries benefit all,” the minister said, exhorting that scientific community should look beyond publishing their research works in scientific journals.

Mentioning that the union government is taking various steps to promote innovation in the ICT sector, Mr. Chowdary said that state governments should be actively involved in the promotion of the segment. The state can actively engage startups, small and medium enterprises in a large manner. Also, tier 2,3 and 4 cities should be brought to the digital map and that is possible only by actively involving the state governments.

The minister observed that world over protectionist tendencies are cropping up in an unprecedented manner, particularly in developed markets. To create a buffer from external shocks, which we might face in the export of software and solutions, he said, capacities should be built within the country to help the IT units to market their products domestically. “The Government is aware of the situation and contemplating several steps to help industry to face the challenges. But industry also should take responsibilities for addressing them in a proper perspective. “Moving up in the value chain is the best way for Indian industry to be in the reckoning in the changing paradigm. Focus on competitive edge and efficiency, which can take the industry forward, should be the hallmark” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IT Prl.Secretary, and Government of Telangana observed that exhibitions like Indiasoft should help the startups, small and medium companies to market their products in a cost effective manner besides helping them to find ways to fund their operations. Laying emphasis on moving away from the traditional ways of doing business, he exhorted industry to actively get involved in Internet of things, artificial intelligence, robotics etc.

Mr. Grapati, Chairman, ESC said that ESC with its membership base of 2500 companies of all hues and sizes, was best suited for addressing the challenges of the Indian ICT sector and assured that that the organization was taking timely measures for taking the challenges faced by the industry.

Mr. Nalin Kohli, Chairman, Indiasoft Committee of ESC has said that of the 250 Indian companies participating in the Indiasoft, 50 are startups selected from incubators run by prestigious organizations.

Mr. D K Sareen, executive Director ESC explained about the importance being given to the embedded technologies in the Indiasoft. (Maxim News)