Maharashtra constitutes State Innovation Council

11-05-14

Padma Vibhushan Dr Raghunath Mashelkar has been appointed as the Co-Chairman of the Council

By Kartik Lokhande 

On the lines of National Innovation Council, an initiative taken by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Maharashtra Government also has constituted Maharashtra State Innovation Council. The Council, which is said to be an initiative of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, has been formed to give a boost to research and development in the State.

Prithviraj Chavan


Chief Secretary has been appointed as Chairman of the Council while globally acclaimed scientist Padma Vibhushan Dr Raghunath Mashelkar has been appointed as Co-Chairman. Dr Rajendra Jagdale, Director General of Science and Technology Park, Pune, has been appointed as Member Secretary of the panel. The members include Secretary of Department of Science and Technology of Government of India, Nominee of National Innovation Council, President of MCCI, President of CII, Director of IIT-Powai, Director of ICT-Mumbai, Director of IISER-Pune, Chairman of Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Mission; Additional Chief Secretary/Principle Secretary/Secretary of Planning, Higher and Technical Education, Industry, and Information Technology departments. Deputy Secretary of Planning Department is the Convener of the Council.
Responding to ‘The Hitavada’ query over e-mail, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar informed that the newly formed Maharashtra State Innovation Council had an ‘excellent’ first meeting in Mumbai on April 7, where ‘a very forward-looking, distinctive and action-oriented way forward was discussed.’ Dr Mashelkar, who is Chancellor of Academy of Scientific and Industrial Research, expressed his pleasure over ‘the commitment of the Chief Minister’ to make Maharashtra as India’s leading Innovation State and a complete alignment of every member of the Council to make it happen.

Dr Raghunath Mashelkar

Dr R A Mashelkar is CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow and is also the President of Global Research Alliance, a network of publicly funded research and development institutes from Asia-Pacific, Europe, and USA with over 60,000 scientists. He served as Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for over 11 years. He was also the President of Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and President of Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK).
The Maharashtra State Innovation Council will advise various State departments, encourage and suitably reward the youth, academies, and research and development institutions, industries, agriculture etc. It is also expected to ‘leverage all available State, National, and global networks and resources.’ The Council will act as an ‘umbrella advisory board’ to boost performance and efficiency in every sector. According to the authorities, the Council shall meet at least once in a quarter and shall submit its report or recommendations to the Government. Besides, it has been empowered to set up its sub-council, sub-committees, or invite ‘need-based’ members/experts as special invitees.

Functions of the State Innovation Council

* To prepare ‘innovation roadmap’ for the State

* To create smart eco-system to boost and nurture innovation

* To explore opportunities for innovation in the State

* To organise seminars and workshops and courses on innovation

* To create State Innovation Portal

* To organise risk capital for promoting entrepreneurship

* To identify and reward talent in innovation and disseminate success stories

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