Ramakrishnan said that India — which the government says aspires to becoming a “top science country” by 2030 — is investing far less in science than many other countries.
He stressed that a country should invest in indigenous research and not just take advantage of discoveries made elsewhere if it wanted to progress.
It is the politicians’ job to increase long-term funding for research and encourage young scientists, he said, stressing the importance of science and innovation in creating new industries, fuelling growth and building a knowledge-based economy.
Singapore, despite lacking natural resources, has developed into a world-class economy primarily because of its “knowledge economy”, he said. In contrast, many African nations that are rich in natural resources are poor.
