The Department of Science and Technology (DST) should make efforts to set up the first-of-its-kind National Science and Technology Research University by leveraging the research strength of its autonomous institutions, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday.

Addressing scientists and officers at the Technology Bhawan, Singh said the country today is third in global rankings in terms of research publications It is globally number nine in the quality of research publications in the world’s reputed and recognised science journals, the science and technology minister said.

Even though, he said, India’s global ranking in the quality of research papers has improved from 14 to nine, concerted efforts should be made to bring the country among the top five by the time it celebrates 75 years of its independence.

“The Department of Science and Technology should make efforts to set up first-of-its-kind National Science and Technology Research University by leveraging the research strength of its different autonomous research and development institutions working in the field of science and technology,” the minister said.

Singh also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special focus on science and technology. He said it was with the prime minister’s personal intervention that in 2016, the patent law was made less regulatory and more incentive-oriented, which led to ease of working and reduced time taken for improving patents.

Not only this, over the last seven years there has been an increase in the number of resident patents filed, several Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researchers and the number of women scientists, he added.

The minister emphasised the need for focusing on increasing numbers of beneficiaries in human resource-related schemes like MANAK, INSPIRE, doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships. Stressing on the need for projecting DST’s success stories when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence, he asked the DST to come forward with some big targets and plans for 2022. It has turned out that in the 75th year of Independence in 2022, the DST will target the launch of 7,500 STI based start-ups, a DST statement said. In addition, under the Vigyan Jyoti scheme, the DST will target 75,000 girl students getting benefits of the scheme by 2022, the statement added.