INDO-RUSSIAN
ILTP JOINT COUNCIL MEETING OPENS
The 11th
meeting of the Indo-Russian Joint Council’s Integrated Long-Term
Programme of Cooperation (ILTP) began in Bangalore today with
both the sides expressing complete satisfaction over successful
implementation of projects identified in the first phase, as also
with great optimism over projects identified for implementation
under phase II of ILTP extended upto the end of the decade. Both
the co-Chairmen of ILTP Joint Council, Prof. CNR Rao and Academician
F A Kuznetsov said that the time has now come for the two sides
to move towards joint transfer of technologies already evolved
to the industry for commercialisation. They said that the aim
is to achieve the pinnacle of scientific collaboration not only
for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries but also the
entire mankind. They also spoke of setting up of more joint Centres
of Excellence at various scientific institutions of repute in
the two countries.
The list of fresh
projects identified for implementation during the second phase
include, earthquake resistant structures, development of infra-red
source for gas sensing, thermal camera to detect pre-cancerous
lesions, microbial biodiversity, structure and tectonic evolution
of Indian Ocean ridge system since the last jurassic, limnological
studies of fresh water lakes in East Antarctica, study of Antarctic
Ozone hole, development of high current particle accelerators
and development of bio-chips for bio-medical applications. Priority
is being given to development of technologies for the extraction
of gas hydrates from the seabed, as an alternative source of fuel/energy.
