ID :
210233
Thu, 09/29/2011 - 12:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210233
The shortlink copeid
ENHANCE GRASSROOTS INNOVATION, INDIA DON URGES MALAYSIA
PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Grassroots innovation, if well capitalised, could help Malaysia achieve high-income economic status even before 2020, says an Indian scholar.
National Innovation Foundation of India vice-chairman Professor Anil K. Gupta told Bernama that Malaysia could achieve the status through the enhancement of grassroots innovation, saying high income could only be achieved by reducing costs and simultaneously increasing productivity.
Anil, a professor at India’s premier business school, the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad, said grassroots innovations utilise cheap, easy-to-find and sustainable raw materials and if the government gives due consideration to grassroots innovators by commercialising their ideas, the nation stands a great chance of achieving high-income status much earlier than targeted.
"The government through its agencies must go for grassroots innovators as they usually do not emerge in the mainstream for fear of being sidelined.
"If Malaysia can capitalise on these talents, from what I have seen in Kedah, Perlis and Perak, it will result in even those without proper education becoming inventors.
"Their ideas stand a bright chance of being commercialisied later," he said, adding that grassroots innovations are ideas generated by people who are mostly without formal education or technical training.
Grassroots innovators can be found anywhere in the world, with their ideas designed in their own way of culture, heritage and business purpose, he said.
Anil said the Malaysian government must now give greater support to the Malaysian Innovation Foundation to discover and tap small ideas and mechanisms of non-urbanites and which major corporations would not venture into.
He also advised the foundation to emulate the National Innovation Foundation of India, which introduces and nurtures innovation in schools.
"Schools are not only the first place to acquire knowledge but also the place where future leaders and innovators emerge.
"So, why don't we transform future innovators to become present innovators, and at the same time, save time in achieving a vision much earlier than having to wait 10 to 20 years," Anil said.
The Indian innovation foundation, he said, began with no government funding some 20 years ago "but today we have discovered some 160,000 grassroots ideas and innovations from 545 districts.
"Many grassroots ideas have been commercialised and have contributed a significant percentage to our Gross Domestic Product annually."
National Innovation Foundation of India vice-chairman Professor Anil K. Gupta told Bernama that Malaysia could achieve the status through the enhancement of grassroots innovation, saying high income could only be achieved by reducing costs and simultaneously increasing productivity.
Anil, a professor at India’s premier business school, the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad, said grassroots innovations utilise cheap, easy-to-find and sustainable raw materials and if the government gives due consideration to grassroots innovators by commercialising their ideas, the nation stands a great chance of achieving high-income status much earlier than targeted.
"The government through its agencies must go for grassroots innovators as they usually do not emerge in the mainstream for fear of being sidelined.
"If Malaysia can capitalise on these talents, from what I have seen in Kedah, Perlis and Perak, it will result in even those without proper education becoming inventors.
"Their ideas stand a bright chance of being commercialisied later," he said, adding that grassroots innovations are ideas generated by people who are mostly without formal education or technical training.
Grassroots innovators can be found anywhere in the world, with their ideas designed in their own way of culture, heritage and business purpose, he said.
Anil said the Malaysian government must now give greater support to the Malaysian Innovation Foundation to discover and tap small ideas and mechanisms of non-urbanites and which major corporations would not venture into.
He also advised the foundation to emulate the National Innovation Foundation of India, which introduces and nurtures innovation in schools.
"Schools are not only the first place to acquire knowledge but also the place where future leaders and innovators emerge.
"So, why don't we transform future innovators to become present innovators, and at the same time, save time in achieving a vision much earlier than having to wait 10 to 20 years," Anil said.
The Indian innovation foundation, he said, began with no government funding some 20 years ago "but today we have discovered some 160,000 grassroots ideas and innovations from 545 districts.
"Many grassroots ideas have been commercialised and have contributed a significant percentage to our Gross Domestic Product annually."
