Science, Technology and Innovation
Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development
Science, technology and innovation (STI) are basic requisites for sustainable socio-economic development of any nation. Science, technology and innovation are closely related - advances in science underpin continuous development and improvement of technology.
Role of Nuclear Technology
Nuclear technology plays a vital role in addressing sustainable development challenges in various sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, agriculture, food, energy, industry, water and environment. Nuclear technology contributes in diverse ways:
Plays a unique role, i.e., currently only nuclear technology can produce desired results.
Serves as a better alternative to non-nuclear technology.
Complements non-nuclear technology, i.e., desired results are produced only when nuclear and non-nuclear technology are used in combination.
When planning use of nuclear technology, it is crucial to consider the following:
Role to be played by nuclear technology must be clearly understood. There are situations where nuclear technology is not better than non-nuclear technology for a purpose in terms of technical and cost-effectiveness. There are situations where nuclear technology is not appropriate.
Need to get an optimized package of nuclear and non-nuclear technology. For programmes/projects orientated towards socio-economic development, nuclear technology is invariably only a component of a package that also comprises of non-nuclear technology. Thus, to produce desired results, it is necessary to get the package right, such that nuclear and non-nuclear technology are optimally integrated.
Requisite environment for the application of nuclear technology. Use of nuclear technology requires an environment where safety, security, and non-deviation to weapons are assured, in line with international norms and best practices. The requirements are different for different technologies.