He said there is another proposal for setting up a Neutrino Observatory at Theni in Tamil Nadu at a cost of 1,350 crore to study the fundamental particles that form the universe.

Noting that publicly funded R&D was skewed in favour of fundamental research rather than applied research, Singh said "It is easier to attract industrial funds into applied research areas and a set of principles should be formulated to push such funding and to drive public-private-partnerships in R&D."

"While research generates new knowledge, we need innovation to use this knowledge productively for social benefit. We need to give practical meaning to innovation so that it does not end up being just a buzz word," he said.

Congratulating the Science Congress for highlighting the role of women in science, the Prime Minister lauded the women scientists for making a mark in traditionally male bastions and decisively breaking the glass ceiling.

He noted that the country's Agni Missile programme has a women scientist - Tessy Thomas at the helm and for the first time last year, three women scientists received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize as compared to total 11 women awardees for all the years since 1958 upto last year.

However, the Prime Minister noted that nearly 60 per cent of the 2000 Indian women PhDs in science were unemployed and the main reason cited by them was lack of job opportunities.

A very small section cited family reasons for unemployment, he said.

The Prime Minister also gave away awards to scientists for their achievements and tribals of Koraput region for the global recognition they received for conservation of bio-diversity and developing climate resilient farming systems.