A new partnership between India and Canada in researches in science and technology is in the offing. A deal to this effect was signed between the Indian science and technology minister Kapil Sibal and the Canadian minister for foreign affairs, international trade and Pacific Gateway, David Emerson in Ottawa on Sunday, involving research initiatives also by companies on both sides valued at more than $ 17 million.
A new research partnership initiative with the department of biotechnology in India was also launched.
According to a press release issued by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), eight of the initiatives would be joint research projects while the other two initiatives would be partnership development activities (PDAs). PDA initiatives would foster joint activities aimed at generating new or expanded research and technology-based partnerships between countries and may include such activities as scientific seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops, and activities that involve exchanges of scientists, technical experts and academics.
All the projects would be co-funded by the Canadian Government’s International Science and Technology Partnerships Program to be delivered through the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA), jointly promoted by Indian science and technology ministry and CII and its counterpart in Canada – International Science & Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTP Canada).
ISTP Canada and its Canadian partners are awarding $3.82 million to co-fund the Canadian side of these projects. The remaining funding is provided by GITA on the Indian side.
Among the eight identified joint research projects are – a project for providing quantitative methodology for integrating acoustic emission into the tank bottom maintenance management program for the oil and gas industry, in situ repair of ocular tissues to restore or improve sight, mobile asset application to achieve pollution control in vehicles, design and development of an aircraft integrated development environment tool for a new generation regional transport aircraft, next generation interoperable geo-portal (iGP) solution for the emerging spatial data infrastructure (SDI) market, rapid diagnostics to improve animal health, bio-fuels for aviation and indigenisation of broadband over power line technology to connect adjoining villages in India using existing power.
