UK and India sign landmark research agreement
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UK and India agree Memorandum of Understanding on research and
innovation agreement signed at UK-India Science Innovation Council
meeting in Parliament today will help facilitate a raft of new
joint research programmes, with India to partner with the UK’s
initial £119 million International Science Partnerships Fund The UK
and India will today (Wednesday 26 April) sign a landmark agreement
to collaborate on science and innovation, following a meeting
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The UK and India will today (Wednesday 26 April) sign a landmark agreement to collaborate on science and innovation, following a meeting between UK Science Minister George Freeman and Indian Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh. The memorandum of understanding on research between the two countries will be signed at the in Parliament this afternoon, enabling quicker, deeper collaboration on science between the two science powerhouses that will drive economic growth, create skilled jobs and improve lives in the UK, India, and worldwide. The agreement will remove red tape standing in the way of major collaborations, while unleashing a raft of new joint research schemes aiming to deliver progress on some of the biggest issues facing the world, from climate change and pandemic preparedness through to AI and machine learning. Programmes include the establishment of a new UK-India Net Zero Innovation Virtual Centre focusing on industrial decarbonisation and launching the first ever UK-India scientific deep sea voyage. Minister of State for the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman said: “India is rapidly building on its phenomenal software and innovation sectors to become a global powerhouse in science and technology. “With our extensive trading and cultural links, shared democratic values and interest in urgent global issues from green technology and agri-tech to biosecurity and pandemic preparedness, we have very strong platforms for deepening research collaboration. “Today’s agreement is part of our program of deepening UK collaboration with other global science superpowers on ground-breaking innovation and research, to help tackle shared global challenges. This partnership will grow the sectors, companies and jobs of tomorrow for the benefit of both our countries and the globe.” The UK is determined to work with partners across the globe in delivering world class science and research. Other recent announcements include the launch of the International Science Partnerships Fund in Japan, an MoU on science with Switzerland, and agreements on closer collaboration on agri-tech with South Africa. Alongside this momentous agreement, today’s announcement also sees India named as a partner for the UK’s International Science Partnerships Fund, carrying forward the UK-India science partnership built through the Newton-Bhabha fund. This renewed partnership will kick off with two new joint UK-India research programmes:
Other UK-India agreements to be made at the Science and Innovation Council today include:
The collaborative activities carried out under the MoU will be supported by joint funding agreed by both sides, with finances for each programme determined between the UK and India on a case-by-case basis. Notes to editors Other agreements between UK and Indian institutions in research and innovation include:
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