India involved in joint research projects worth $180 million with 6 countries
A comparison of average domestic fares prevailing in some countries for air travel above 2,000 km showed that those in China were higher than in India by 87 per cent, those in Australia by 182 per cent, in Canada by 162 per cent and in the US by 119 per c
India has inked pacts with six countries, including the US and Australia, for collaborative research in science and technology area to be undertaken at a joint investment of $180 million over the next five years, a senior Department of Science and Technology (DST) official said on Saturday.
"We have plenty of them. We have about 83 agreements on research collaboration with various countries. We have committed $180 million on a five year budget with six countries..", DST Secretary T Ramasami told PTI .
Of the total figure, he said US and Australia have jointly put $125 million with India. "It is several instruments of collaboration which have been built on common front", Ramasami said adding the agreements were aimed at promoting "research collaboration" between the countries.
Noting that 10 years ago India had signed similar research agreements with the United States, he said last year it was signed between Russia and the Germany.
From researchers point of view, he said, "India is not looked as a donor or a giver (in a collaboration), but they are looked at as a partner..".
Earlier, delivering his address on "Successful Indo-French Science and Technology Cooperation", he said there was a proposal to set up a Common Institute for undertaking research studies on water.
"It is coming up at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. It is not a separate entity. It is a virtual institution, where scientists from France and India work together", he said.
Stating that the scientists at the Centre would work on "advanced research technologies", he said "today's science becomes, tomorrow's technology."