Date:19/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/19/stories/2006111903490300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Engineers urged to look beyond IT companies

Staff Correspondent

They should develop new products, patent them: Mohapatra

FOR THE FUTURE: VTU Vice-Chancellor K. Balaveera Reddy laying the foundation stone of the silver jubilee library building in REC Bhalki. College committee president Ishwar Khandre and Brahmos Aerospace Executive Director S. Mohapatra are seen.

Bidar: "Indian engineers should aspire to be researchers and entrepreneurs. They should innovate, develop new IT products and patent them. Their aim should not be to end up as slaves of technology in big IT companies." This was the advice of S. Mohapatra, executive director of the Brahmos Aerospace, to students at the Rural Engineering College in Bhalki on Saturday.

He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the silver jubilee library building of the college and the Freshers' Day celebrations. "Our talented engineers are made to produce some parts of software programmes and not independent programmes or general IT products. Why should we produce custom-made programmes that meet specific purposes of clients while our potential is to translate new ideas into IT products that can be patented," he asked.

College committee chairman Ishwar Khandre, vice-president Keshavrao Nitturkar, principal B.B. Lal, vice-principal P.N. Divakar, teachers and students were present. Vice-Chancellor of Viswesvaraya Technological University K. Balaveera Reddy gave away prizes to toppers in various classes.