MORE INDO-FRENCH RESEARCH LABS IN THE
OFFING
India and France
are to set up more joint research labs and also take up networking
of research programmes in areas of mutual interest. This is envisaged
in the proposed programme of cooperation in Science and Technology
for the period 2003-05. This will pave the way for further intensification
of collaboration between the two sides in a number of identified
areas. These include Environment particularly water, climatology
and disaster management, Information Technology, Biotechnology
and Pure Sciences especially covering mathematics, physics,
chemistry and optics.
The two sides focussing
on few key areas already have two labs operational i.e. the Indo-French
Lab for Ground Water Research, at the National Geophysical Research
Institute, Hyderabad and the Indo-French Cell on Water Sciences
at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
The collaboration
between the two sides is particularly marked by the creation of
the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research,
functional since 1987. The Centre has been promoting collaborative
research by the scientists of the two countries in fundamental
as well as applied scientific fields. It has so far successfully
concluded 150 basic research projects and one industrial research
project. Currently, 66 more projects are under various stages
of implementation that include 64 basic research and two industrial
research projects.
The research projects
implemented relate to mathematics, astronomy, material sciences
and catalysis, biotechnology and life sciences. This apart the
Indo-French centre has been supporting industrial research projects
with linkages between R&D labs and industry.
The Indo-French scientific
collaboration is expected to achieve a new dimension in the frame
of the science and technology policy unveiled by the government
in January 2003. The policy strives to infuse new vitality into
Indian science to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements,
worldwide.
