The idea of utilizing science & technology with a wider reach to achieve faster development in the country necessitated the establishment of S&T institutions at the State level. Kerala is the first State in the country which created a State Committee on Science & Technology headed by a scientist/technologist, as Chairman. The first State Committee on Science and Technology (STEC) in India was constituted by Government of Kerala on 29th May 1972 and first Science and Technology Policy resolution in the India was unveiled in 1977 by the Government of Kerala. The Electronic Research and Development Center (ER&DC) was established under STEC in 1974. In 1975 The Kerala Forest Research Institute was established. The Srichitra tirunal Institute for Medical sciences Technology (SCTIMST) and National Transportation Planning and Research Institute (NATPAC) was established in 1976. The Centre for Water Resource Development and Management and Center for Earth Sciences were established in 1978. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute were established in 1979. In 1993 the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for biotechnology was brought under the STEC. The Separate Department for Science, Technology and Environment was created in 1987. A technical secretariat was also established. With the creation of the department and technical secretariat, the State Committee on Science Technology and Environment (STEC) could expand its activities in diverse fields and impart S&T inputs to line departments for solving their problems. Over the years, the R&D centers under STEC umbrella have built up an impressive record of achievements to create a suitable research environment in Kerala. The Advancement in Science and Technology coupled with liberalization of the economy and progressive globalization has brought in new challenges to the Science & Technology sector. To cope with the emerging scenario, the Government of Kerala took a timely and pro-active step by restructuring State Committee on Science Technology and Environment to Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment. The council came in to existence on 21st November 2002 as a registered society under the Travancore – Cochin Literary scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act 1955. The R&D Institutes namely Centre for Earth Science Studies, Rajiv Gandhi Centre of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, Centre for Water Resource Development and Management, National Transport Planning and Research Centre and Kerala Forest Research Institute were amalgamated fully with KSCSTE for their integrated development.
The Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) is an autonomous body under Science and Technology Department, Government of Kerala, constituted in November 2002 vide GO(P) No. 76/2002/STED to be an agency for change and development through Science and Technology. Formerly it was the Science, Technology and Environment Committee (STEC), established in 1972 in concurrence with the Science Policy of Government of India. The council promotes and activates programmes for increasing the stock of knowledge in science, and fine tunes policies which are significant and for the sustained development of humanity. The council prepares the road map for development through scientific research and innovation in technologies. Achieving excellence in basic research, academia-industry interactions, strengthening indigenous initiatives, and building strong infrastructure and developing a high quality science education system in the state are our targeted goals. This has been achieved through various schemes and programs and by the R &D organisations established by the council. KSCSTE has a State Council headed by the Chief Minister of Kerala and an Executive council chaired by the Executive Vice President (EVP). Objectives To identify thrust areas in Science and Technology for speeding up the socioeconomic development and enhancing the quality of life and environment in Kerala; To advise the Government on the formulation of policies and strategies and suggest measures for implementation, which will promote the application of Science and Technology to meet the perceived needs of the society, and manage natural resources; To assist in the preparation of the Science and Technology Development Plan of the State and in its implementation; To promote effective coordination between Centres of Scientific and Technological research, Government agencies, farms and industries including the private sector so that know-how generated by scientific research is fruitfully deployed by transfer of technology; To support and coordinate research programmes in the universities and institutes of the Government, Research and Development laboratories of the private sector with a view to optimizing the scientific output. To consider and advise the Government on all such matters as are relevant to the application of Science and Technology to the economic, industrial, educational and social development of Kerala. To advise local government on use of Science & Technology for local application and local development To network the Science and Technology agencies within and outside the country To make the Science, Technology and Environment plans responsive to the developmental needs of Kerala and to dovetail them with the programmes of the economic, scientific and service departments of the Government such as agriculture, industries, power, water, energy, education and IT. Main functions of the State Council Plan, formulate and implement Science and Technology Promotion and other related research and development programmes. Provide overall guidance to the programmes and the developments of R&D centres of the Council. Withdraw and disburse the grant-in-aid funds from the Government and sponsoring agencies to R&D Centres and other grant-in-aid institutions. KSCSTE Headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram The decisions of the State Council and Executive Committee are implemented by the Council Headquarters (CHQ) based in Thiruvananthapuram. The functions of CHQ are carried out under the overall guidance of Executive Vice President who is also the ex-officio Principal Secretary of Science & Technology Department (S&TD). The executive functions are administered by the Member Secretary. The Science and Technology programmes are managed by Scientists and other staff members, both technical as well as administrative. There are seven institutions under the ambit of KSCSTE which undertakes research work in specific identified domains. Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) – catering to the R&D needs in the field of water management. Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) -to undertake research in areas like forestry, biodiversity etc., that are vital to the development of the Kerala State. National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) – research and consultancy works in the fields of traffic engineering and transportation planning, highway engineering, public transport system, inland water transport, tourism planning, rural roads, environmental impact assessment and transport energy. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI)- conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant biodiversity of India, particularly of Kerala for the well-being of her people. Malabar Botanical Garden & Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS) – conservation and research on aquatic plant diversity, lower group plants, endangered plants of the erstwhile Malabar Region, as well as disseminating knowledge on various facet of plant sciences. Institute for Climate Change Studies (ICCS)- focuses on research related to State specific impacts of climate change and develops systems for providing timely and improved climate change information and climate services to the state. Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute for Basic Sciences (SRIBS)- fosters fundamental research across disciplines including chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and computer science.
