Scientific Research and Economic Development

Abstract

This article is a commentary on Praveen Patel’s article, ‘Research Culture in Indian Universities’, appearing in this issue. Patel’s thesis that knowledge creation through scientific research in our universities is a key to economic development is unexceptionable. However, there are conditions under which the above relationship will hold good. It is also argued that scientific research outside of the university system too should be taken into account in any discussion of the above relationship. Patel calls the United States as the ‘paradigm of knowledge society’. Arguments against this statement are presented. The hierarchy between data, information, knowledge and wisdom is pointed out.