Top 10 inventors and innovators of the country would be awarded by National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) in a ceremony at the University of Petroleum and Energy studies here on Thursday. Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India and Padma Vibhushan recipient Dr R Chidambaram would preside over the ceremony in which the winners for the year 2012 would be presented the awards in various disciplines.
Informing about the ceremony, NRDC CMD Rajendra Dobhal said these awards were started with an objective to inculcate the innovative spirit in the country. He said the awards were categorised into categories of innovation award of the year, social innovation award of the year and budding innovators award of the year. A total of 10 awards amounting to Rs 24 lakh would be presented in these three categories. Dobhal said that thr NRDC presents these awards every year and till last year 1,798 inventors and have been awarded for their 910 inventions.
He said that the State would be hosting these awards for the first time but when asked about any one from Uttarakhand chosen for the award this year, he replied in the negative. The awards ceremony would be followed by a one-day conference titled ‘Innovate India’ on ‘Innovation Ecosystem-Indian Perspective’ on February 28. Dobhal said that the conference would provide a forum to academia, industries, and Government officials to share their experiences and exchange ideas on latest technological innovations and developments.
Chancellor of University of Petroleum and Energy Studies SJ Chopra, Joint director of Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) Vasudev and Chief of NRDC A Pradhan were also present on the occasion.