Was invited to a seminar at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research on collaboration between industry and acedemia.

The new director of TIFR, seems to be a dynamic sort. Plans to inject new blood in to the system – that would be a countervailing force against the “govermentization” of R&D.

This. as Sir Humphrey would put it, makes the director a very brave man indeed. The dogma he has to overcome within his institute would be his main burden. The belief that all business is bad is fairly pervasive within the institute.

A friend of mine once pointed out – every single “application” oriented innovation was spun off from TIFR into separate companies.

Expertise in software led to NCST

Expertise in Bio Chemistry led to CCMBH

Expertise in microwaves led to the setting up of SAMEER

as the ruling hierarchy believed that the presence of application onriented scientific research would dilute the importance of fundamental research.