Kanpur: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee announced on October 1 that the government has decided to set up five more Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) by upgrading existing academic institutions that have the necessary promise and potential.

Speaking after inaugurating the new building of the Department of Biological Sciences and Bio- engineering at IIT Kanpur, the Prime Minister sought private sector's participation and contributions from IIT alumni for this purpose.

The next big revolution, Vajpayee said, will unfold in the bio-technology sector and it would touch the lives of ordinary people in ways that cannot be fully imagined today.

"We must not lag behind others in this revolution. Indeed, India should aspire to be one of the leaders," the Prime Minister said.

Vajpayee said IITs have achieved the purpose of providing world-class technology education at a low cost to the brightest students of the country and they have become the magnet of the most intelligent and most ambitious students who have made a mark in the industry and management in India and outside.

Vajpayee said there was an urgent need to expand the overall size of the IIT system in view of the growing population.

PTI