Dr T Ramasami, currently Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology, holds a Master's degree in Leather Technology from the University of Madras, India and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Leeds, UK. He has also worked on energy research in Ames Laboratory Iowa, USA and on electron transport phenomena in the Wayne State University, USA prior to returning to India for undertaking his scientific career. He joined the Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai as a scientist in 1984 and served as its Director for more than 10 years up to May 2006. He is known among the scientific establishments in the country for his leadership to the Central Leather Research Institute. The institution earned a global leadership status during his tenure as its Director as evidenced by the 30% global share of publications, more than 7 per cent share of global patents, positions in fashion forecasting and the level of public-private partnership built in leather research.

Dr Ramasami has assumed the role of Secretary, S&T, Government of India since May 2006. He is currently engaged in the development of policies and programs for attracting talent for study and careers with science, rejuvenation of research in universities, stepping up of international S&T cooperation, development of public-private partnerships in R&D sector and accountability of public funded research, development and demonstration. The Department of Science and Technology is aggressively engaged in the development of new models and mechanisms for enhancing the role of public funded institutions in innovations and research and development.

Dr Ramasami has a large number of publications in highly peer-valued journals and significant number of patents, which are under commercial exploitation. His research experience spans over several fields and areas in both basic and applied sciences. He has made some important contributions in the fields of inorganic chemistry as well as chemical and leather related technologies. His contributions to the understanding of the chemistry and applications of chromium as well as leather science and environment related technologies have earned him several professional recognitions both in India and abroad. These include Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for chemical sciences in 1993, election to all major science academies as a fellow as well the Third World Academy of Sciences and the National civilian award Padma Sri in 2001.