Annual Report 2001 - 2002

International S&T Programmes

The Department of Science & Technology is vested with the mandate to identify, facilitate and promote international cooperation in the emerging and frontier areas of science and technology under a bilateral, multilateral or regional framework, as applicable. This has been achieved through a systematic attempt in promoting interaction between governments, academia, institutions and industries, primarily in the fields of science and technology with specific focus on areas of common interest, with activities aimed towards generating mutual benefit. These objectives have been accomplished by adopting an underlying philosophy of a 'give and take' approach with a reciprocal arrangement that benefits both India and the partner country. The vehicles of cooperation employed to achieve the above objectives have been as follows:

• Facilitate and promote joint collaborative projects and programs under S&T arrangements.
  
• Support exploratory visits to identify trends and specific areas of scientific collaboration.
  
• Exchange of scientists and technocrats through the medium of fellowships.
  
• Promote exchange and dissemination of information and scientific opportunities through joint workshops, seminars and symposia etc.
  
• Facilitate cooperation in R&D leading to transfer of technology and product development.
  
• Extend avenues for training in specialized areas of R&D with thrust on providing access to 'big facilities'.
  
• Create a comprehensive database and reference source of Indian diaspora with the aim to establish linkages and interaction leading to S&T collaborations.
  
• Establish or cause to establish joint Centres of Excellence in advanced areas of R&D in India or abroad.

Bilateral Cooperation

Australia

The draft of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in Science & Technology is being negotiated with the Australian Department of Science, Technology and Industries.

Bangladesh

The second meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint S&T Committee was held in New Delhi which led to the conclusion of a Protocol of Cooperation in Science & Technology for the period 2001-2002. A number of activities for cooperation during the next two year period were identified which includes among others joint research project on Food technology, Biotechnology, Composite materials, Communication technology, Numerical modeling of cyclone and climate and Waste management. A patent facilitating cell is also planned to be set up in Bangladesh.

Brazil

A delegation led by the Hon'ble Minister of Science & Technology visited Brazil in July 2001, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Brazilian side. A Programme Management Board with six members from each side was set up for coordination of activities under the MOU, which covers areas of Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Human health, Climate research, Renewable energy, Space science, Marine science, New materials and Industry research partnership. It has also been proposed to create India-Brazil Science Council.

Bulgaria

Under an operating bilateral cooperation Agreement in Science & Technology, both sides have agreed to cooperate in areas of metal sciences and new materials; alternative renewable energy sources including solar energy; geophysical instrumentation and earthquake engineering including prediction; laser science & technology; and astronomy. Joint workshops and exploratory visits on a reciprocal basis are planned during 2001 to identify specific projects for initiation. A number of joint projects have been received from scientists of both sides for implementation.

China

The Fifth meeting of the India-China Joint S&T Committee is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2002. A series of Joint Seminars/Workshops are being planned during November 2001 to January 2002 in specific topics of High Energy Physics; Astronomy & Astrophysics; and Natural Disaster Mitigation. In addition, negotiations are under way for working out separate arrangements of cooperation between DST and the Chinese Academy of Science and the National Science Foundation of China. Further, the Department of Ocean Development and the State Oceanic Administration of China are in the process of finalising a separate agreement in the field of Ocean Science & Technology.

As an offshoot of the decision taken at the last meeting of the Joint S&T Committee, visits of Secretary, DOD, DBT and DST were arranged during the period under review. A series of visits to China have been also supported under the Project related Expert Exchange Programme (PEEP). These visits have led to identification of joint R&D projects in areas related to Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Natural Disaster Mitigation; and Bamboo Handicrafts Techniques. Two visits from China in the area of Advanced Materials also took place under the PEEP programme.

Cuba

A joint workshop is to be organised in Cuba on Biomedical Technology and Instrumentation. Three exchange visits also took place under Protocol of Cooperation with Cuba.

Egypt

The first meeting of the Indo-Egyptian Joint Science & Technology Committee was held at Cairo in June 2001. A new Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology for the period 2001-2003 was concluded during this meeting. Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, Information Technology, Innovation and Technology Transfer, Medical Sciences, Metallurgy, New Bio-active agents from the Egyptian Medicinal Plants, Oceanography (including Fisheries), Petroleum, Remote Sensing and Space Technology, and Renewable Energy have been identified as areas of cooperation.

Ethiopia

In order to develop S&T Cooperation between Ethiopia and India, a Draft Agreement between Government of India and Government of Union of Ethiopia has been exchanged with the Ethiopian side.

France

An Indian Delegation visited France in April 2001 to explore the possibility of developing Indo-French Collaboration in Natural Disaster Management. As a follow-up, the meeting of the Indian Working Group identified two short term and five long term joint Indo-French Projects on Natural Disaster Management. These include studies on Microzonation, Quantitative Tectonic Geomorphology, Seismic Wave Propagation in Complex Media, Dynamics of Modeling Landslides Debris Flows and Glaciers, Modeling Rupture Processes on Faults and Hypothesis testing of Earthquakes as Self Organized Critical Phenomena as well as Cyclones and a Workshop on Floods.

In pursuance of the recommendations made in the Eighth Meeting of the Indo-French Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation support has been extended in the current year to Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai, to provide for exchange visits of Indian and French mathematicians. An advanced Training School on 'Recent Advances in Climate and Environmental Research (RACER)' was organized at Bangalore in April 2001 with special emphasis on climate change, climate modeling and forecast methodologies. The faculty for this Advanced School comprised of both French and Indian Scientists.

Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR)

Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR), was established jointly by Indian and French Governments and started functioning as an autonomous body since 1987. Under the aegis of IFCPAR, sixty projects with France are at various stages of implementation. The Scientific Council of IFCPAR held its 27th Meeting at Paris in May 2001 and recommended 13 new projects for acceptance. Out of these recommended projects, DST has provided clearance to 8 projects in thrust areas relating to Catalysis Science and Engineering, Pure and Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and Cellular and Molecular Biology / Genetic and Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology including Applications to Medicine and Agronomy. Some of these projects have led to practical application resulting into award of three patents. Two PhD's were also awarded through the joint projects.

Germany

The co-operative activities were taken up under three different arrangements. The DST-BMBF (German Ministry for Research & Education) which emphasizes on application oriented projects; the DST-DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) project based personnel exchange programme (PPP) with special emphasis on further academic and specialized training for young researchers; and DST-DFG (German Research Society) project based cooperation. Overall there were about 400 exchanges of scientists/students between India and Germany.

The DST-BMBF programme expanded from 15 to 25 projects (which included 4 projects with industry participation). Some of the achievements facilitated were Deposition of microcrystalline silicon and silicon carbon alloy films at high deposition rate using VHF power in PECVD for solar cells; Building a large area position sensitive detector at the Materials Science Beamline at NSC, Delhi; Setting of research facility in the field of Laser Ultrasonics at IIT Kanpur for NDE of composite material structures. An Indo-German Workshop on "Nano-Materials and Technologies" was held in BESSY, Berlin with a view to identify topics of mutual interest for collaboration in this frontier area.

DST-DAAD PPP has expanded from 36 to 50 projects. Some salient achievements include filing of a patent on high pressure liquid extractor for plant materials; trials on industrial application of water jets for cutting/cleaning etc; study of growth, structure and phase transitions in Langmuir- Blodgett films grown in the Indian Laboratory using Energy-Dispersive X-ray Reflectivity and Grazing-incidence diffraction techniques at BESSY II and HASYLAB synchrotrons; developing maps for urban town planning in Aligarh.

Negotiations were held with the German side for initiation of two new schemes of cooperation. During the visit of President DFG it was agreed in-principle to start a project based DST-DFG programme, under which few major projects have been initiated.

A new programme for participation of young Indian researchers in the annual meetings of the Nobel Laureates with young students and researchers was launched. 17 Young Indian scientists participated in this year's event in Physics at Lindau. It has proved to be a highly motivating experience for the Indian scientists.

Hungary

Following the 4th meeting of the Indo-Hungarian Joint S&T Committee, 14 research projects are being implemented in the areas of Earth Sciences, Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, Superconductivity and Food Technology. About 30 scientists exchanged visits from both sides. An Indo-Hungarian Workshop on "Recent Advances in Bone Marrow Research" was held in Budapest in which 8 Indian doctors participated.

Indonesia

The First Meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint S&T Committee took place in New Delhi in March 2001 following the signing of an MOU during a VVIP visit to Jakarta in January 2001. Four proposals on Training for Techno Business for Development of Science Centers; Ocean Dynamics studies for Protection of the Onshore Line Construction from the Wave Actions; Digital Library; and Information Exchange for Disaster Mitigation, are actively under consideration for implementation. A three Member Indonesian team participated in an International Conference on Digital Library at the invitation of Department of Science & Technology at the University of Mysore during June 2001.

Israel

The 22 on-going joint research projects were supported and monitored. Work on six projects was completed. Ten scientists from India/Israel visited the laboratories of their collaborators for implementation of joint research projects.

An Indo-Israel Symposium on Advanced Materials is proposed to be organized in Advanced Research Centre for New Materials and Powder Metallurgy, Hyderabad in which six Israeli scientists and twenty-five Indian researchers will participate. The second Indo-Israel Review Seminar on Human Genome Research is also proposed to be held in Jerusalem. A joint conference on Condensed Matter Physics was organized in Jerusalem in which 18 Indian scientists were participated.

Based on the Energy Tower concept developed at the Israeli Institute of Technology, Technion, a demonstration project in India has been formulated which would be coordinated by TIFAC. The first meeting of the bi-national Steering Committee on the project was held in Israel, which was attended by 4 members from India.

Italy

Department of Science & Technology together with Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-sponsored 10 project based exchange visits in the fields of material science & technology, geothermal energy, medical and health sciences; visit of 7 Indian scientists to conduct three research experiments on Elettra X -Ray diffraction beamline; 2 joint projects for value addition on Elettra SAXS and X-Ray Diffraction beamlines at Sincrotrone Trieste; holding joint Conference on High Pressure S&T and 4th IUCDAEF-CAT Annual School on Science with Synchrotron Radiation in India and the 9th International Elettra User Meeting at Italy; an Indian scientific team went to Italy on an exploratory mission in the field of materials science & technology.

Two meetings of DST Expert Committee on India's collaboration with Sincrotrone Trieste were convened during the year for recommending the Indian research experiments to be run on Elettra beamlines, joint projects with Sincrotrone Trieste and application of Synchrotron Radiation. Preparations are underway for the 5th meeting of Indo-Italian Joint Committee on Scientific & Technological Cooperation at Rome for identifying activities for next Indo-Italian POC in S&T for 2002-2004 in sectors of physics, accelerated particles, materials science & technology, energy & environment including polar research, medical & health sciences including medical radiology, electronics & robotics including ICT, microelectronics, microsystems, agriculture including biotechnology.

Japan

Under the India-Japan Inter-Governmental Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology, the ongoing projects are being implemented through exchange visits of scientists. Two experiments have been conducted by Indian scientists at Advance facilities in Spring-8, Harima and at KEK, Tsukuba, Japan jointly with Japanese scientists.

Under the India-Japan Cooperative Science Council programme activities in six identified areas continued through 10 joint projects and 20 study/short-term research visits. About 40 Indian scientists visited Japan and 30 Japanese scientists visited India for projects, workshops and exploratory purposes. One joint workshop and one Discussion Meeting have been organised in India in the priority areas of 'Material Science' and 'Modern Biology & Biotechnology' and 17 Indian scientists were supported for participation in Indo-Japan Workshops held in Japan in the areas of 'Manufacturing Science' and 'Molecular Science'. In addition, one Asian Academy Seminar (Winter School) is proposed to be organised in Dec 2001 at Hyderabad in the area of 'Material Science' for about 14 Young Scientists from Asian countries including 20 from India with invited talks/lectures/practical sessions being given by International experts with the support of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

DST is the responsible organisation in India for various fellowships implemented by JSPS. For this year 5 Indian researchers were nominated for the JSPS Post Doctoral Fellowships for conducting research at Japanese Universities. Cases were also processed for shortlisting Indian candidates for 4 slots for the RONPAKU (Ph.D. Dissertation) of JSPS. Indian researchers were also nominated for various fellowships for conducting research in Japanese National Institutes (non-Universities) - 5 Post-Doctoral fellowships, 3 Long-Term Invitation fellowships and 8 Short-Term Invitation fellowships which were implemented earlier by Science & Technology Agency (STA) of Japan and now by JSPS.

Kazakhstan

The Third Session of Indo-Kazakh Joint S&T Committee was held in New Delhi in August 2001. During this session, the two sides concluded a Programme of Cooperation (POC) in Science & Technology and separate Letter of Intent for cooperation in Biotechnology and MOU on Agricultural Research were signed.

Five Kazakh specialists working in areas of Mining & Metallurgy; Catalysis and Solar Energy visited India during 2000-2001 on exploratory and projects based visits to discuss and formulate joint research projects of mutual interest.

Two Kazakh specialists from the Institute of Chemical Sciences, Almaty and Almaty State University availed the DST-JNCASR Fellowship under which the scientists worked for 3-6 months in India. A bio-sensor based earthquake prediction equipment from Kazakhstan has been installed in N. Delhi. This equipment is presently under evaluation on the basis of exchange of daily observation data for three months from Indian and Kazakh stations.

Malaysia

The First Meeting of the Joint S&T Committee took place in New Delhi in March, 2001. The Programme of Cooperation (POC) on S&T was signed during the visit of senior level delegation from the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment (MOSTE) to New Delhi in July, 2001. The POC envisages organization of Joint Seminars/ Workshops on (i) Advanced Materials; (ii) Ayurvedic Medicines; (iii) Bio-informatics; and (iv) Vaccine Development. Focal points have been identified in each of the topics on both sides and dialogue is under way to organize these Workshops (two in India and two in Malaysia). A Joint Seminar/Workshop in Advanced Materials is planned to be held at NML, Jamshedpur together with the International Advanced Research Center & Powder Metallurgy (ARC-I), Hyderabad during November/December, 2001. Similarly, a Joint Workshop on Vaccine Development is being planned in India in the first quarter of 2002.

Mexico

Under the Indo-Mexican Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology, one joint research project in Life Science was approved and financial support provided to the Indian researcher. Another joint project on astrophysics was also approved, which is being implemented by Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore from the Indian side.

Myanmar

An India-Myanmar Friendship Scientific & Technical Library is being set up in Yangon, Myanmar under the Programme of Cooperation between India and Myanmar. An Expert Group from India visited Yangon, Myanmar in August 2001 and held discussions regarding the setting up of the Library with the Myanmar side.

Poland

Following the 4th meeting of the Indo-Polish Joint S&T Committee which was held at New Delhi, 18 joint research projects in the areas of Chemistry, Modeling, Instrumentation, Opto-electronics, Meteorology and Biotechnology are being implemented. About 25 exchange visits of scientists took place. An Indo-Polish workshop on "Biotechnological approaches to herbal drug development" was organized in New Delhi in which 10 Polish scientists participated.

Portugal

An Indo-Portuguese Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology for the years 2001-2002 specifying financial and other terms of cooperation, was concluded in July, 2001 at Lisbon. Joint research projects in the areas of Ocean Science & Technology, Computer Software and Applications, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Physical & Material Sciences have been identified for initiation. Simultaneously a MOU on Science & Technology for five years was also signed. It was also agreed that a workshop on Oceanography would be organised by the Indian side in Goa during November 2001.

Republic Of Korea

Negotiations are under way for formalization of a Programme of Cooperation (POC) in Science & Technology in specific topics of (i) Chemical Technology; (ii) Biotechnology; and (iii) Information Technology. The Draft POC was conveyed to the ROK side envisaging cooperation in Joint R&D projects; organization of joint Seminars/Workshops; and exploratory visits of Scientists on both the sides to each other's country to identify new areas of cooperation. Dialogue is under way to depute a senior level delegation from India to finalize the Programme of Cooperation for implementation during 2002-2004.

Russia

Integrated Long Term Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology (ILTP) is a widespread and well? knit S&T cooperation programme between India and Russia. ILTP is coordinated by the Department of Science & Technology and Russian Academy of Sciences from the Indian and Russian sides respectively. Its implementation is effected through a network of area coordinators and project coordinators. The programme includes projects in eleven thrust areas which have direct economic relevance related to frontier areas of science and technology and seven selected areas of basic research in science. Most of the thrust area projects have high potential for industrial realization.

Considering the benefit which have accrued from the ILTP during last 13 years and the vast potential available, under a new agreement on Integrated Long Term Programme (ILTP) of cooperation in Science & Technology signed last year, the ILTP Joint Council in its 10th meeting held in Chernogolkova in June 2001, approved 57 new projects for inclusion and 83 projects for continuation. Over 200 exchange visits of scientists were organized for implementation of identified project activities as well as for exploratory purposes. ILTP fellowships were offered to 10 Russian scientists for working in India. Technology Route, a magazine to disseminate information about Russian technologies ready for commercialisation and technology transfer to Indian industries, was published on a bi-monthly basis.

Singapore

Consequent upon the visit of the Director, Singapore Synchrotron Light Source (SSLS) to Center for Advanced Technology, Indore, Nuclear Science Center, New Delhi and BARC, Mumbai in April 2001, an understanding on the utilization of Synchrotron facilities in each other's country for carrying out the various beam line experiments were reached. A Memorandum of Understanding will be entered upon as an enabling mechanism for joint research. Similarly, dialogue is under way to formalise a Programme of Cooperation in S&T with the National Science & Technology Board of Singapore.

Sri Lanka

Under the cooperation program with Sri Lanka, six Lankan experts were trained in Accreditation of testing laboratories in Hyderabad. Six Sri Lankan scientists were also imparted training in Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore in various areas of Food Processing.

South Africa

A South African delegation visited India and a new Programme of Cooperation (POC) has been concluded. On the request of South African side information on Indian set up for clearance of issues related to Bio-ethics was provided.

Tajikistan

Following the earlier concluded S&T Cooperation Agreement, India has proposed to conclude a bilateral Programme of Cooperation (POC) in Science and Technology with Tajikistan on common areas of interest. Collaborative work on Himalayan glaciology is envisaged with Central Asian Republics (CARs) including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is proposed to hold a 3-day workshop in India. Two specialists each from the aforesaid countries will be invited to interact with Indian groups for identifying joint research projects in glaciology.

Thailand

An inter-governmental S&T Agreement has been finalized between the Department of Science & Technology on the Indian side and the Kingdom of Thailand. The S&T Agreement is expected to be signed during a forthcoming VVIP visit.

Ukraine

The second meeting of the Indo-Ukrainian Joint Science & Technology Committee was held in New Delhi. 14 new projects were approved for implementation under the on-going Programme of Cooperation for the period 2000-2003 in the areas of Metallurgy, Materials Sciences, Earth Sciences, Cosmology and Food Technology. Ten scientists also exchanged visits.

United Kingdom

Cooperation in Science & Technology between India and UK is presently in the form of supporting project related exchange visits of scientists in the specific areas of Agro-Food Science and Biotechnology, Advanced Material Science & Manufacturing Systems and Telecommunications, including Information Technology. Around 27 proposals are presently being supported under the India-UK Science & Technology Research Fund (UISTRF). 18 Indian visits and 10 visits from the British side have been supported. 12 proposals have been completed against 39 proposals agreed upon for implementation during 1998-2002.

DST and UK Office of Science & Technology are actively considering to re-orient the present level of interaction to cover, among others, exploratory visits of eminent scientists / experts, organization of Joint Seminars/Workshops in specific topics of common interest, utilization of advanced facilities in each other's country and introduction of lecture series by eminent experts from each side. Developing academic/industry linkages in emerging areas particularly to develop major programmes in Telecommunications, Biotechnology and Advanced Materials etc. are also under consideration.

USA

DST as a part of its S & T Cooperation Programme with the National Science Foundation of USA, continued to support joint research projects whose number increased from ongoing 18 to 29. Eleven new joint projects in the frontier areas of nuclear physics, crystallography, stellar astronomy, microelectronics, molecular biology, metallurgy and atmospheric sciences have been initiated. A joint workshop on "Emerging Trends in Vibration and Noise Engineering" will be held in December this year at Ohio State University in which eight Indian scientists would be participating.

Indo - US S & T Forum

Under a bilateral agreement, the Indo-US S & T Forum has been established as an autonomous society with DST as the administrative department for the Forum. The Governing Body (GB) of the Forum consisting of 14 eminent persons, with seven members each from India and the US was constituted.

The meeting of the first regular GB took place in March 2001, which identified six priority areas of cooperation namely, Nano-Scale Science and Technology, Genomics, Computer Modeling, S & T related to Health, Energy & Environment and Brain Research. Workshops will be held in these areas in order to formulate the joint research projects. As one of the first activities, the Forum partially supported a workshop held at Hyderabad in July 2001 on "Agro floats" which are planned to be deployed in the world Oceans as network of intelligent data collecting platforms required for Ocean Modeling and Climate Studies.

Uzbekistan

An experimental 1.5 KW Solar Furnace Assembly gifted by the Institute of Material Science, Uzbekistan under the Indo-Uzbek S&T Cooperation activities was commissioned at International Advance Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARC-I), Hyderabad for conducting research in development of new materials.

An On-line Brightness Control and Monitoring Equipment for pulp and paper industry was developed jointly under the Indo-Uzbek S&T Cooperation activities was successfully installed for field trial in a paper mill in India. As initial trials have revealed viable economic potentials, both sides are now working towards product development.

Activities relating to application of lasers in medicines were continued. The lasers supplied by the Uzbek side have been used for treatment of specific disease. At present, the cooperation is directed at the development of new generation of medical devices with increased efficiency for treatment.

On an invitation from the Uzbek side, Indian specialists will visit Uzbekistan in September/October 2001 to discuss joint activities in IT sector specially to organise an exhibition of IT products from India and extending training facilities in IT sector.

Vietnam

In accordance to the recommendations of the Indo-Vietnam Programme of Cooperation in S&T, two joint projects on Telecommunication Counter and S&T Information are under implementation. 3 scientists from Vietnam visited India and one scientist from India visited Vietnam to work on the prototype Telecommunication Counter. Two Indian experts visited Vietnam and 2 Vietnamese scientists undertook training on S&T Information and Dissemination in India. A joint seminar on Science & Technology Policy Management was organized in New Delhi in which 6 Vietnamese experts participated.

Reciprocal visits led to the formulation of joint projects on the 'Development and transfer of technologies for ethnic minorities in mountainous areas of Vietnam' and a project on 'Neem tree tissue culture and medicinal extraction'. Cooperation on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes was also agreed upon. Three projects on Oceanographic research have been also finalised after the visit of a 4-member delegation from Vietnam to NIO, Goa. A Vietnamese technician has been trained on Tide Gauge operation in India. A 2-member team from India visited Vietnam and supervised installation and commissioning of the Tide Gauge Station.

The 4th Session of the Indo-Vietnam Joint Committee on S&T was held in New Delhi in August, 2001 which was led by the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology & Environment of Vietnam. The progress of the on-going programme was reviewed and 12 joint projects were approved for the next year. Regional Cooperation

SAARC

The First Meeting of the SAARC Technical Committee on Science & Technology under the restructured IPA was organised in New Delhi during the year in which all the 7 member states participated. During the meeting, a number of project proposals were recommended for the current calendar year.

A separate session on Cooperation in Biotechnology was held in which Action Plan was prepared and the member States were assigned the work of preparing respective status papers on various sectors of Biotechnology. A SAARC Science & Technology Website was launched during the meeting for dissemination of information on S&T developments in the region. Multilateral Cooperation

UNESCO

Three initiatives for India-UNESCO collaboration in S&T was tabled during the visit of DG UNESCO to India in July 2001. These include UNESCO's sponsorship for international/regional meetings to arrive at an International Declaration towards Transition to Sustainable Consumption; Setting up of Intellectual Resources Management Fund (IRMF) by UNESCO in partnership with UNDP, World Bank, European Commission and other interested donors; and UNESCO support for specific Science & Technology Policy Asian Network (STEPAN) activities under India's leadership as the STEPAN Regional Secretariat.

As a follow-up of the discussions in India with DG-UNESCO, DST has conveyed four Draft Resolutions from India for adoption in the 31st UNESCO General Conference (Paris, Oct-Nov 2001) on Science Sector.

A Review Workshop of the UNESCO sponsored Pilot Study on "International Mobility of S&T Professionals" was held at COSTED, Chennai in June, 2001 for finalizing the text of the recommendations arising from the feedback of the questionnaires to different Asian countries. The key recommendation relates to creation of an Intellectual Resources Management Fund (IRMF) by UNESCO with the aim to i) ensure human resource development on the global agenda and receiving support by developing countries in expanding their research-cum-educational infra-structural capacity of turning over highly qualified S&T professionals and ii) intensifying more balanced mobility of scientists and technologists world-wide by facilitating visit of foreign and expatriate S&T professionals into developing countries for rendering their expertise in appropriate fields.

European Commission

An India-EC Agreement for cooperation in Science & Technology was signed during the 2nd India-EU Summit at Delhi in November, 2001. This Agreement will be the basis for boosting co-operation between the scientific centers of excellence, partnership between scientists and technical experts and shared use of advanced research facilities in joint research projects at cutting edge of science and technology of mutual interest with application towards socio-economic development.

DST-ICTP Fellowship

12 applications were processed for selecting Indian scientists to be awarded 2001 Year DST-ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics) fellowships for attending ICTP Training Programs in fields of Physics of Condensed Matter, Physics of High & Intermediate Energies and Energy & Environment at Trieste within the framework of DST-Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Agreement for Enhanced Cooperation in S&T.

DST-ICTP TRIL Fellowship

DST-ICTP TRIL (Training Researchers in Italian Laboratories) Fellowship Agreement has been signed. This Agreement will complement the Indo-Italian POC in S&T 2002-2004 by way of co-financing of fellowship to 5 Indian scientists for working in Italian laboratories in research areas that are of direct relevance to Indian R&D programs.

Third World Academy of Sciences

DST intends to participate in the 'Seminar on Science in India' to be held in October 2001 as a satellite event to the 8th General Conference of Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) cum 7th General Meeting of Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWONSO) being hosted by INSA. Information paper on "Opportunities for third world scientists for advanced research in India " will be tabled.

Role of NRI's and PIO's in S&T Sector

At behest of the High Level Committee (HLC) on Indian Diaspora, an S&T Expert Group on Role of Non Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) was constituted in May 2001. The Expert Group has submitted its report with specific recommendations on channelising NRI's for national S&T programs. S&T Wings at Indian Missions Abroad

Tokyo, Japan

Under the India-Japan bilateral programme, scientists from India conducted joint scientific experiments at high-energy beam line at Spring-8, Harima in Japan. Two batches of approved candidates from India availed Postdoctoral as well as Ronpaku fellowships of JSPS / STA to work at institutions in Japan. Japanese supervisors of Ronpaku fellows visited Indian research institutions. Exchange visits also took place under INSA-JSPS exchange programme.

The S&T wing assisted and participated in the Japan-India joint seminars on 'Advanced Manufacturing System' and 'Manufacturing Science of Advanced Composite Materials' held in Japan. The Wing also facilitated the participation of Japanese scientists in the international seminars on Manufacturing Science, held at Hyderabad; Pacific Ocean Remote Sensing Conference (PORSEC), held at Goa; Conference on S&T of Nano-structured Materials held at Puri and Conference on Strings 2001 held at Mumbai.

The Wing collected, collated and transmitted important scientific developments and policy decisions in Japan to various Departments/institutions in India. It identified institutions undertaking advanced scientific research and conveyed information to relevant institutions in India with a view to establish links for collaboration in advanced areas of research like nano and micro-electronics, special application ceramics, carbon nano tubes, intelligent materials, information highway, fuel cells, genomic sciences, genetically modified food, climate science, earth simulator, deep-sea observation and sample collection, one kilometre long floating platform on which experimental flights can land, superconducting material with pinning centers esp. for magnetic levitation etc.

The wing facilitated signing of a MOU between IIT, Madras and the Nagoya University. The MOU proposes to promote exchange of students, professors, researchers, scientific materials and information as well as undertaking joint research activities.

After the Gujarat earthquake, the Wing coordinated the visit of Japanese teams, which took sophisticated equipment to undertake relief and study at the quake sites jointly with IIT, Bombay and Indian Institute of Geomagnetism. Arranged an expert technical link on post-quake agricultural rehabilitation between Gujarat Agricultural University and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Science. Links were also established with EDM, RIKEN, Earthquake Research Institute, Ibaraki University, and UNHCR.

Berlin, Germany

To intensify joint research programs in the field of Biotechnology, India (Department of Biotechnology) and Germany signed a special arrangement of cooperation at Forschungszentrum, Juelich as a part of the overall Indo-German S&T cooperation arrangements. Areas agreed for cooperation are in the fields of functional genomics; drug/vaccine development; tissue and cell culture; bioinformatics; NMR spectroscopy and cancer & TB research.

During the visit of Prof. Winnacker, President, Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft (DFG), it was agreed in principle to start a project based DST-DFG program, under which a few major projects have been initiated.

The University of Freiburg organized an Indo-German joint workshop on 'Viral Hepatitis' in June 2001. An eight member delegation sponsored by ICMR attended the workshop which resulted into identifying a few major projects on the subject.

The Indo-German workshop on 'Nano materials Technology' was held in June 2001 at Berlin. An eleven member Indian delegation took part in the three-day event as an outcome of which joint projects are being worked out.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Indo-German cooperation in the field of aeronautical sciences between DLR, Germany and NAL, India a joint technical symposium is being organized in September 2001 in the Indian Embassy at Berlin.

Washington, USA

A High Level Indo-US Round Table on Science and Technology was held in Washington, DC, concurrent with the visit of the Prime Minister to USA. Distinguished scientists and administrators from both countries participated in these meetings. The meetings were co-chaired by Secretary, Dept of Science and Technology, Govt of India and the US Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Assistant to the President of US. The Round Table was aimed at discussing new directions for the 21st century in Indo-US collaborations in science and technology.

The University of Maryland expressed strong interest in collaborating with universities and technical institutions in Punjab in areas like agriculture, agricultural processing, agricultural biotechnology, education, capacity building and training and other areas of science and technology. In a seminar organized at the Ohio State University, interest was expressed in furthering collaboration in areas related to agriculture and agricultural processing through a consortium of US agricultural universities.