While inventions were important, what was equally relevant to the economy was diffusion of technology. Widespread adoption of technology by users other than the original inventor was recognized as fundamental to generating higher economic growth. This was stated by Dr C Rangarajan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh while addressing a gathering of scientists of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), who were celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). These three institutions are the constituent national laboratories of CSIR in Hyderabad.

The Governor suggested that the national policy must concentrate on several fronts such as overall macro-economic policy framework, research and development efforts by individual firms, direct and indirect role of the government and its sponsored institutions, universities and scientific institutions in facilitating innovation, including diffusion and identification of industries which were to be given priority.

Universities and institutes of science and technology had an important role to play in pushing the technological frontiers. There must be a close association between these institutions and the industry, Dr Rangarajan said.

He cited the example of the Silicon Valley, which grew out of the Stanford Industrial Park, set up by Stanford University. And to this day, Stanford University remains the engine room of the Silicon Valley''s growth. "Our institutions of higher learning as well as research institutes need to do something similar," he added.

He appreciated the efforts of the CSIR and its three constituent laboratories in the city for their efforts to bring economic and social progress through science and technology.

To mark the great occasion, the Governor launched a software package, SCOPE, developed by IICT for pollution control and also a video conferencing facility at the institute. He spoke to R A Mashelkar, the Director-General of CSIR, in New Delhi, as part of the launch and handed over the new package to the head of the Pollution Control Board in Hyderabad. The NGRI and Satyam Computers officials exchanged the MoU documents for a joint venture on oil and gas exploration on the occasion.

Dr Rangarajan felicitated some of the former Directors of the three institutions -Harinarayan (NGRI), Thyagarajan (IICT), Balasubramanyam and Saratchandra (CCMB).

It was also a day to remember for IICT because its Deputy Director, Dr Tushar Kanti Chakraborty, had won the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award of CSIR in the field of Chemical Sciences for the year 2002. Dr Mashelkar announced this at the CSIR Diamond Jubilee celebrations in New Delhi. Dr Chakraborty had made significant contributions to the design and synthesis of unnatural amino acids, cyclic peptides and biologically active natural products. He had earlier won the Young Scientists Awards of CSIR and the AP Academy of Sciences in the year 1991. The Governor felicitated him amidst the clapping of the entire audience.

The three Directors, Dr Lalji Singh (CCMB), Dr K V Raghavan (IICT) and Dr P V Dimri (NGRI) gave a presentation about the achievements of their respective institutions.

IICT will be celebrating its Diamond Jubilee in the year 2004 and CCMB will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee in November this year.