New agreements boost UK and India S&T cooperation

New S&T agreements were made during the PM's visit to India in July.
Image: FCO

Indian and UK scientists will have more opportunities to collaborate following new wide-ranging science and technology agreements announced by the British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to India last week.

Covering health, the environment, education and energy, the agreements are designed to enhance cooperation between the UK and India to the benefit of both countries.

UKCDS members play a key role in many of the new initiatives, including:

• A £45 million partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India to support the development of innovative healthcare products at affordable costs.
   
• Two new UK-India joint scientific research programmes under the Research Councils UK Energy and Digital Economy Programmes, led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The initiatives are:
  • 'Bridging the Urban and Rural Divide' will look at developing technological, societal and economic solutions to improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants in both countries; 
  • Fuel cells initiative to encourage multi-disciplinary research partnerships to develop the next generation of environmentally-friendly fuel cell technologies.
     
• An agreement between the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Indian Power Ministry to work together to help the Indian economy grow in a more energy efficient way, cutting emissions and helping businesses reduce their reliance on energy.
   
• An innovative project between the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Indian Forest Service to examine how the restoration of forests can benefit biodiversity and communities, while mitigating climate change. The project will assess the opportunity and scope of forest restoration to reduce carbon dioxide levels, improve biodiversity, and bring social and economic benefits to local communities, and will also involve the Forestry Commission of Great Britain.
   
• The UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) have announced a joint call for research into chronic non-communicable diseases, a group of conditions responsible for approximately 60 per cent of deaths globally. Proposals are invited from partnerships between academic groups based in India and the UK.
   
• A new scholarship for mid-career Indian professionals working in the fields of science, innovation. The Chevening Rolls-Royce Science and Innovation Leadership Programme will form part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening scholarship programme, which has already sent over 1800 Indians to study in the UK.
   
• The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) outlines these and other science and technology agreements between the UK and India.