This is an upcoming area in the field of science and technology and added that just as in the middle and last half of 20th century the emphasis was on physics and electronics, in the first quarter of the 21st century, the focus is going to be on research in the areas of biomaterials, bioengineering and biodiagnostics, stated the union minister of state for science and technology, Dr Jitendra Singh while inaugurating the conference on biomaterials at New Delhi.

The event has been organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi in collaboration with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies. In addition to the symposia, the 4-day conference also included "microsymposia" on certain lesser discussed topics such as aloe vera, biosensors, and bioplastics.

Dr Jitendra Singh further mentioned that it is a strange yet healthy paradox that each stream of science is growing into a highly exclusive super specialty of its own but at the same time, science scholars are also realizing the importance and viability of coordination among these apparently different streams. This remarkably manifests, for example, in the form of bioengineering which is a synergy of two different streams of science and yet a specialty on its own, he observed.

Dr Singh said that it is a sign of elevation to higher level of academics that the IITs have been constantly experimenting with new areas of scientific technology and have truly proved to be the most cherished seats of learning in contemporary India.

Present on the occasion among others were Prof. R K Shevgaonkar, director, IIT Delhi, Dr Bhuvanesh Gupta, professor, IIT Delhi. Dr Lindia, scientific counsellor Italian Embassy, also spoke on the occasion.