The panel discussion on the topic 'Science Cities: Past, Present, and Future' was part of Hyderabad Literary Festival.
The panel of author Dinesh Sharma and Prannay Kumar of Telangana State Innovation Cell, moderated by Dinesh Abrol, professor at Institute for Studies in Industrial Development. (Sumit Jha/South First)
Osmania University in Hyderabad is one of the oldest universities in the country, established in 1918, with the new IT Hub burgeoning in another corner of the city. The journey from Osmania University, where knowledge is being harnessed, to the IT Hub of the city, where knowledge is being leveraged for economic purposes, took a century.
This insight was shared by Dinesh Sharma, the author of Indian Innovation, Not Jugaad, during the Hyderabad Literary Festival’s panel discussion on the topic of “Science Cities: Past, Present, and Future”.
The panel, comprising Dinesh Sharma and Prannay Kumar of the Telangana State Innovation Cell, was moderated by Dinesh Abrol, Professor at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development.
Describing Hyderabad as a science city, Sharma mentioned how his frequent travels on the Blue Line Metro from Nagole to Raidurgam, a journey of approximately 55 minutes, made him realise that each stop on that Blue Line represented a laboratory. Landmarks like the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), and ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition served as crucial pit stops in the historical journey of the city’s development.
Along this century-long trajectory, there were noteworthy landmarks, such as the devastating Musi floods of 1908, which brought about new ideas for renewing and rebuilding the city under the guidance of Visvesvaraya.
Dinesh Sharma also highlighted the unexpected connections of the two world wars to Hyderabad, particularly the political events surrounding the 1948 merger of Hyderabad into the Union of India. The subsequent years in the Hyderabad state, leading to its capital status, played pivotal roles. The Nehruvian era from the 1950s to the 1980s contributed to nation-building, followed by the critical period of liberalisation in 1991.
“Each of these events, each of these major landmarks contributed to the making of the city and all of them are connected with each other. They may sound as if they are different, unconnected episodes, but each one of these is like a chain connected to each other. And that’s how we have come to this stage. And that has been the story of 100 years,” said Sharma during the panel discussion.
The question of “What does it take?” in developing scientific expertise or the identity of a knowledge city like Hyderabad involves key elements. Essential for the growth and sustenance of a knowledge city are Centres of Knowledge Production, which include universities, research institutions, and academic bodies serving as hubs for generating knowledge. Knowledge workers, skilled individuals beyond institutions, are crucial for the practical application of academic findings.
Processes for Knowledge Transfer, effective processes converting academic and research knowledge into economic production, are needed, Sharma said. Capital investments in research, infrastructure, and supportive policy environments are crucial for fostering an atmosphere conducive to the growth of knowledge-based industries.
“While these elements are common to any city aspiring to be a knowledge hub, it’s important to note that the development of a knowledge city involves a dynamic process. In-migration and out-migration of individuals contribute to the exchange of knowledge and skills. The role of the diaspora is significant in this regard,” said Sharma.
He pointed out that the mere presence of educational and research institutions does not guarantee the development of a knowledge city. For instance, the case of IIT Kanpur, despite being part of a well-funded project with American collaboration, did not have the expected transformative impact on the local socio-economic environment.
The development of a knowledge city requires a holistic approach, encompassing not only the presence of educational and research institutions but also the creation of an ecosystem that facilitates the practical application of knowledge in economic and social contexts.
“Science is a social institution and Hyderabad was a hub for many progressive science field workers. Association of workers of India played a historical role in conceiving the link between science and industry,” said Dinesh Abrol.
Prannay Kumar highlighted that the contemporary understanding of scientific Hyderabad is richly illustrated by a compelling story of rural innovators. He cited an example of a rural innovator from Nizamabad district in North Telangana.
This innovator, with a background in physics and teaching, stumbled upon an idea leading to the creation of a technology capable of restarting a fused-out tubelight, extending its lifespan by three more years. A decade later, he claimed to have developed a tubelight emitting UV rays that could potentially eliminate Covid particles in a given area.
However, validating such claims presents a challenge. In this scenario, the T-Hub building, serving as a hub for start-ups, becomes crucial. How do we verify the efficacy of innovations presented by individuals like this rural innovator?
“The answer lies in the robust scientific infrastructure that Hyderabad has built over the years. The IIIT, CCMB, CSIR, and ARCI play pivotal roles as institutions with deep knowledge repositories on various technologies. These institutions become the pillars on which scientific validation rests,” said Prannay.
In this particular case, to ensure the credibility of the innovator’s technology, collaboration and mentorship from IIIT University, scientific validation from CCMB, and expertise from ARCI were sought.
The interplay between innovation and scientific validation demonstrates the strength and interconnectedness of the knowledge ecosystem in Hyderabad.
Today, scientific Hyderabad is not just about showcasing existing knowledge but also about welcoming a diverse influx of young minds and resources. The emphasis is on presenting science in a way that encourages more people to actively participate in the scientific journey.
He further said that the dynamic landscape of scientific innovation in Hyderabad is further accentuated by the presence of T-Works, the largest prototyping centre situated right next to T-Hub. T-Works serves as a hub where individuals with innovative ideas or product concepts can step in and bring their creations to life using state-of-the-art machinery.
“In the recent years of fast-paced transformation, the city has witnessed a surge in scientific experiments and start-ups, driven by the need to accelerate the deployment of validated technologies. The infusion of young talent, advanced technologies, and a culture of innovation has played a pivotal role in expediting these processes,” Prannay said.
What stands out in this evolving ecosystem is the collaboration between traditional institutions and the burgeoning start-up culture. Established institutions, originally set up for scientific studies and experiments, have recognised the opportunity to leverage the start-up culture to expedite their experiments and enhance the deployment of their research findings.
The contemporary cityscape is characterised by a transition from traditional scientific practices to a focus on technological products. The synergy between institutional knowledge and the innovation-driven start-up culture underscores the unique identity of the city. The experiments and studies conducted by these institutions continue to be the foundation for developing and deploying cutting-edge technologies.
“What we see today as a city is definitely where we are moving from practices to more technological products. But the underlying fact is that these experiments with these studies of these knowledge, these institutions have built, hold the crux of even developing and deploying them. And that is probably the city that is the city that we are seeing today,” Prannay said.
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