Leadership, vision, and corporatization An interview with former CSIR Director-General Raghunath Anant Mashelkar

摘要

For 11 years, Dr Mashelkar served as the Director-General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is a premier industrial R&D organization in India. He has been bestowed with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards by the government of India for his distinguished contribution to science and technology. He enunciated "CSIR 2001: Vision & Strategy" which was a bold step to draw out a corporate like R&D and business plan for a publicly funded R&D institution. This initiative has transformed CSIR into a user focused, performance driven and an accountable organization. He has also contributed in generating awareness about intellectual property rights among Indian thinkers, scientists and research establishments resulting in safeguarding traditional Indian knowledge. He was instrumental in successfully revoking US patents on basmati rice and use of turmeric for its healing powers.