India, US to co-fund research partnership

This aims to encourage research in areas that hold potential to jump from laboratories into the private sector.

India and the US on Thursday announced plans to establish a joint science and technology fund to encourage research in priority areas that hold potential to jump from laboratories into the private sector.

HT Image

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush have agreed to jointly contribute to the creation of the Bi-National Science and Technology Endowment Fund with additional resources to be mopped up from the private sector, an official joint statement said.

Emphasising the importance of knowledge partnerships, both the countries also announced to co-fund a Bi-National Science and Technology Commission that will "generate collaborative partnerships in science and technology and promote industrial research and development".

To be appointed and serviced by the US Department of State and the Indian government, the commission is to be co-chaired by senior leaders from each country and will comprise representatives from the scientific community, government and the industry.

Some of the key areas of collaboration identified are biotechnology, health and infectious diseases, advanced materials and non-technology science, climate science, clean energy technology, clean water technologies, hydrology and watershed management, cyber security, natural resources, wildlife conservation management, basic space, marine, earth and atmospheric sciences.

The joint effort would also include capacity building activities, human resource development and public awareness programmes.