UK and India celebrate collaboration in science and technology
New Delhi, 20 October 2023: Senior representatives from Government of India and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) met here recently to mark 15 years of research and innovation collaboration between the UK and India. UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The milestone event, called `Transforming Tomorrow Together’, was both a celebration of the high-impact programmes delivered under the collaboration over the last 15 years as well as a platform to talk about the various joint efforts that are being undertaken to tackle challenges in areas like telecommunication, nanoscience, and digital technologies.
The UK delegation was led by Professor Christopher Smith, UKRI’s International Champion, UKRI’s Sector Champion for the Creative Industries and Executive Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and Professor Mark Thomson, Executive Chair of UKRI’s Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Prof Smith noted that the research and innovation partnership was a shining example of how when global collaboration thrives and we work together, the entire world benefits. “Over the last 15 years Indian researchers and innovators have worked with UKRI to tackle challenges facing us all, from making fashion sustainable, to advancing telecoms and reducing carbon emissions, to life saving research as we collectively sought solutions for COVID-19”.
A commemorative brochure highlighting the research outcomes and impact of UKRI India programmes and partnerships was released on the occasion. The document detailed the various collaborative work undertaken in several key areas of innovation, including health, climate, energy, technology and culture.
The meeting also focussed on a new programme launched jointly by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Government of India ‘s Department of Atomic Energy on 2nd October 2023. Funded through the UK’s International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF), the programme aims to expand on the scope of the ongoing collaboration between the two organisations. UK participation in this programme will be supported at the level of £5.3 million.
Dr. Arun Kumar Nayak, Head, Nuclear Controls and Planning Wing, DAE, expressed happiness that the collaboration between STFC and DAE is being expanded beyond the engineering and physical sciences to fields as diverse as AI, Machine learning, astrophysics, gravitational waves, bio-imaging and particle accelerator related technologies. “I look forward to seeing this collaboration mature in a manner which is not only mutually beneficial to our nations but also helps in addressing some of the common challenges of the modern world.”
Sukanya Kumar, Director of UKRI India, reflected on the many strengths between the two nations. “As we look forward to the next 15 years, we are eager to build on our successes and are geared towards bolstering our efforts further to support excellence, inspire talent, spur creativity, and continue to make a difference,” she said.
