'Big data analytics, high-tech startups future of research'

The future of research are big data analytics and high-tech startups, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Union government R Chidambaram today said, stressing that industry and institutes need to be in 'thermal equilibrium' for commercial application of their research.

Delivering his first Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Lecture organised by CII and Kalam International Foundation here, he said India has a high-range of technological capabilities and should take some amount of risk in research.

Chidambaram, also the chairman of Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet, cited examples of industries working directly with research institutions to develop technology.

He said there is a need for from large industries imparting knowledge to small industries to hel them develop products.

He cited the successful launch of 74 satellites from 20 countries by ISRO recently as an example of what commercialisation could do.

Talking about the trends in high-tech start-ups in advanced manufacturing, machine tools sector and analysis of big data, the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission said "open technologies" such as the World Wide Web would propel India into the future.

Nazima Marakayar, niece of Kalam and Managing Trustee of the APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, said: "We have to work together in the areas of science and technology including solar and space.