India-UK to strengthen coperation in S&T

Updated on: Tuesday, November 15, 2011

India and the United Kingdom resolved to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of science and technology, including exchange of information in civil nuclear technology.

This was decided at a meeting between the UK's Minister of State for Universities and Sciences David Willetts and Minister of State for Science & Technology and Planning Ashwani Kumar here.

"We have identified certain important areas such as advanced manufacturing, smart grid, food security, oceaneography, advanced weather forecasting where we believe we can work together very closely," Willetts told reporters after the meeting.

He said the India-UK Council on Science and Technology will hold the next meeting in London in February 2012.

"There are some crucial areas in which our two countries can cooperate. There is already great cooperation between the two countries with 80 million pound dedicated to joint research and our aim is to enhance it further," Willetts said.

Asked about prospects of cooperation and information in civil nuclear technology, the British minister said "this is an area where we have some expertise. This is an area where we have agreed to consider further cooperation."

Kumar, on his part, said the February meeting is expected to further firm up the implementation process and funding of for joint research.

"The nuclear safety issues which are paramount in our country, as indeed in the rest of the world, could be the subject matter of a very useful scientific and technological collaboration. The safety issues are what we really focussed on," he said.

The British minister said his country is also looking at exploring the possibility of mutual accreditation for students in research projects by universities in the UK and India.

Under this, students who undertake a part of their research in an Indian university and the remaining in a British university would be granted degree jointly by both the institutes.

India-UK to strengthen coperation in S&T

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