T Ramasami Urges Engineers to Focus on Affordable Innovation at VIT Chennai Convocation

Former Department of Science and Technology secretary T Ramasami urged graduating engineers to focus on affordable innovation to uplift society, speaking at VIT Chennai's 14th annual convocation on Sunday.

Addressing the graduating class, Ramasami emphasised that creating affordable solutions for societal progress is far more crucial than pursuing innovation merely for market dominance. He highlighted the importance of directing technological expertise toward addressing broader community needs.

Highlighting regional academic performance, Ramasami pointed out that Tamil Nadu has established itself as a frontrunner in research and development. He noted this standing is demonstrated by the volume of research publications featured in peer-reviewed journals, with 61% of those publications originating directly from universities, setting what he termed a global benchmark.

Ramasami also provided a historical perspective on India's global economic presence, noting that the country contributed 28% of the world's GDP in 1750, which subsequently declined to 0.1% by 1947. Calling for a return to global leadership, he stated that with India currently home to 29% of the world's youth power, the country possesses sufficient energy and capability to shape a new global landscape.

Mohit Jain, chief operating officer (publishing) of Bennett, Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL), attended the convocation as the guest of honour and urged the graduating students to adopt an ambitious mindset in their careers.

Jain encouraged the graduates to develop a "10x mindset" rather than settling for marginal gains. He noted that while a 10% improvement helps optimise existing potential, a 10x ambition compels individuals to reimagine possibilities. He added that the trajectory of their careers will remain closely linked to the scale and significance of the problems they choose to address.