India's IITs are the bridge to the future: Minister

Indian Union Minister for Education and Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan, called the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) repositories of knowledge, experience, and bridge to the future.

He was speaking at the inaugural event of the IInvenTiv, where all-IITs R&D participated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

It was the first-ever all-IITs R&D showcase.

The IITs, according to the minister, “are no more just Indian Institutes of Technology, but they have become instruments of transformation. IITs are the repositories of knowledge and experience and bridges to the future.”

The historic-first event “bore the testimony to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘Jai Anusandhan’ to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The minister said IITs had to move beyond being just engineering colleges. “We have to stop benchmarking IITs on the basis of placement packages. IITs should redefine parameters and benchmark the number of innovations brought into the market, monetized innovations, and job creators created. He also said that technology will drive the next phase of growth and development with IT and communications technology among the front runners,” news agency ANI quoted Pradhan as saying.

He gave credit to the brilliant minds of the young talents for innovations. “Whether it is the development of Indian vaccines within a short span of time that not only benefitted Indians but millions of people across the world. It has all been possible because of brilliant minds like yours.”

He further said these were the signs of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ where the relationship of Academic R&D – new age technology – industry- Society needs a boost.

The inaugural session of the event was graced by Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder, and Chairperson of Bharti Enterprises, as the Guest of Honour. IInvenTiv had some eminent names like Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, of Steering Committee IInvenTiv; Dr. BVR Mohan Reddy, Co-Chairman, of Steering Committee IInvenTiv; and Dr. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director of IIT Bombay, and Convener, Steering Committee IInvenTiv.