Uttarakhand now has its Science, Technology & Innovation Policy
Elaborate steps to transform various spheres towards sustainable development through S&T
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
In accordance with the announcement made by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Information Technology, Good Governance and Science Technology department has released the Uttarakhand Science, Technology and Innovation (STIP) Policy-2026. The policy is aimed at encouraging science and technology based development and innovation to develop the State into a major centre of science, technology and information technology.
Dhami said that STIP-2026 is an important document for taking the State towards becoming an economy based on knowledge, research and innovation. “Our aim is not limited to the expansion of science and technology but also to connect it with general public life, good governance, disaster management, education, agriculture, health and employment generation. This policy will provide a common platform to the youth, researchers, startups, scientists and innovators at the ground level. It will also boost efforts towards making a self-reliant and developed Uttarakhand through the combination of traditional knowledge and modern technology,” he said.
Director general of Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), the nodal agency for science extension, Durgesh Pant said that the State is presently facing various challenges like natural disasters, climate change and increasing pressure on the Himalayan ecosystem. “The new policy will establish coordination among science and technology institutions, research institutions, academicians, industries and innovators for addressing these challenges. By providing equal opportunities to women, residents of rural and remote areas, border area communities and the differently abled, this policy will ensure equal participation in the spheres of science and innovation,” Pant said.
According to officials, STIP-2026 focuses on the effective use of science and technology for addressing the State’s specific requirements and challenges. It aims to take the State forward in the direction of sustainable development while retaining focus on economic development, social inclusion and environmental balance. An advisory body will be formed at the State level for the effective implementation of the policy. This body will focus on execution, monitoring and evaluation of the policy. A decentralised institutionalised arrangement will also be developed to encourage research and innovation in the State. A State-level coordination committee will also be formed for establishment of Science, Technology, Innovation (STI) units in various State government departments, public undertakings, private sector companies and startups. Easy access to scientific information, research findings and resources will be ensured for all stakeholders. Further, the basic structure will be developed for encouraging science, technology and innovation education in educational institutions. The STIP-2026 also lays special focus on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, drone technology, augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality. Research and development works will also be encouraged in space technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, digital technique, food-water-energy security and disaster management. In addition to this, a science, technology and innovation observatory will also be established for centralised digital storage of information related to all schemes, programmes, grants and incentives. Online education platforms will be developed to encourage research and innovation, and innovators will be provided assistance related to patent, copyright, intellectual property rights and other legal procedures.
