Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Thursday unveiled the country’s new Science, Technology and Innovation policy at the inaugural session of the 100th Indian Science Congress.

“The Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2013 released today aspires to position India among the top five global scientific powers by the year 2020. It is an ambitious goal. It aims to produce and nurture talent in science…to create a policy environment for greater private sector participation in research and innovation…” the Prime Minister said in his inaugural speech.

The policy plans to raise the gross expenditure on research and development to 2 per cent from the present 1 per cent of the GDP by encouraging more private-sector contribution.

For implementation, the Department of Science and Technology will establish a policy implementation group to put the proposals to work within the next two years.

abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in