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Bangalore: The Indian knowledge industry should integrate Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) and nano technology for
achieving material convergence using silicon electronics and
photonics, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said Tuesday.
"When ICT and nano technology meet, integrated silicon electronics
and photonics are born to achieve material convergence. Just as IT
and communications converged, IT and bio-technology lead to
bio-informatics," Kalam said inaugurating the country's premier
ICT event 'BangaloreIT.biz 2011' trade expo here.
By linking material convergence and bio-technology, Kalam said
intelligent bio-science could be developed to ensure a disease
free and smart human habitat with longevity and high capabilities.
"Nano needles, which can pierce and deliver content into targeted
cells are shaping bio-sciences," he noted.
"Convergence of bio-nano-info technologies can lead to the
development of nano robots, which can be injected into a patient
to diagnose and deliver treatment in the affected area," Kalam
told about 500 delegates participating in the three-day IT
expo-cum-conference.
Calling upon the resilient Indian IT industry to broaden its
vision for emerging as a knowledge system powerhouse instead of
software powerhouse, he said to achieve global operations, the
Indian IT sector should introduce virtual platforms for
development of knowledge products based on national experience in
engineering design of multiple systems.
With 'India Innovates' as its theme, the three-day trade
expo-cum-conference provides a platform to foster an eco-system
for innovation and position Bangalore as the R&D gateway of India.
As the country's innovation hub, Bangalore emerged as the premier
destination for a large number of global R&D centres,
multinationals and Indian IT bellwethers like Infosys and Wipro
among others.
As a networking platform for IT, IT-enabled services, hardware and
semiconductor sectors, the 14th edition of the mega event is
showcasing innovators of products, technologies, services and
delivery.
Cautioning the burgeoning IT industry to be wary of complacency in
light of "rigorous turmoil" in the key western markets, union IT
Secretary R. Chandrashekhar told the delegates that recessionary
trends and anti-outsourcing sentiment in the US, which accounts
for 60 percent of IT exports was cause for concern.
"Europe, which contributes about 30 percent to IT exports, is in
the throes of economic crisis due to sovereign debt and structural
issues. With 90 percent of the export markets going through such
rigorous turmoil, we cannot afford to be complacent,"
Chandrashekhar said.
The secretary also revealed that withdrawal of tax incentives
under the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) scheme led to
decline in the setting up of new IT firms and start-ups across the
country as small and medium enterprises were worried about their
business prospects without sops.
Noting that innovative IT players had been instrumental in placing
Bangalore on the world IT map, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda
said the robust growth of the Indian IT industry was led by
Karnataka, contributing about 30 percent of the country's exports
over the years.
Exports by Software firms and back office operations (business
process outsourcing) firms from across the state, primarily from
Bangalore, contributed Rs.90,000 crore in value during last fiscal
(2010-11).
Of the 2.5 million working in the hi-tech sector, about 800,000
are employed in Bangalore alone.
"The state will soon come out with a policy on animation and
gaming to give a boost to this promising sector, having prospects
of reaching Rs.10,000 crore in next fiscal (2012-13) and
strengthening the IT prowess of the state," Gowda said.
About 50 start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are
displaying their products and technologies in a special pavilion
along with about 130 exhibitors across the sectors.
With Bihar as the partner state, about 10 states, including Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will
participate in the expo.
About 1,000 delegates from across the country and overseas are
expected to attend the event.
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