Annual Report 1999-2000

International S & T Programmes

Bilateral Cooperation

Australia

High level discussions took place to revive the bilateral Science & Technology cooperation between the two countries. Drafts of the new MOU have been exchanged.

Bangladesh

The first meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint S&T Committee was held in Dhaka in February, 1999 which was participated by a 4-member Indian delegation led by Secretary, DST. After the meeting, a Protocol of Cooperation in Science & Technology between the two countries was concluded. A number of activities for cooperation during the next two year period were identified.

An officer of the Bangladesh Ministry of Science & Technology visited India for orientation in activities of various scientific departments and agencies, e.g. DST, DBT, TIFAC, APCTT, National Science Academy, CSIR, NPL etc.

Belarus

Three Indian scientists visited various S&T institutes/ organisations in Minsk, Belarus for exploring possibilities of cooperation in the areas of chemical and material sciences. A Belarussian delegation led by the Chairman, State Commission on Science & Technology, Belarus also had a meeting with Secretary, DST to discuss the S&T cooperation.

Brazil

An Indo-Brazil workshop on Climate Research was organised by National Institute of Space Research (INPE), Brazil. A five member delegation sponsored by DST participated in this workshop. The workshop was organized in four segments and each segment was held in different place and institution. The rotating venue concept helped the core Brazilian and Indian delegates in interacting with large community of Brazilian scintists working in this area. Four themes have been identified for developing a focussed collaborative programme in the area of Climate Research. The themes are : i) Climate Variability, predictability and impact on agriculture ii) Tele-connections between different regions of the globe iii) Intra-seasonal and seasonal climate prediction models and their performance iv) Crop weather relations.

China

The Fourth Meeting of the Indo-China Joint S&T Committee took place in Beijing on May 24, 1999. This Meeting was held after a gap of 6 years, the last meeting having been held in New Delhi in April,1993. The Joint Committee, taking note of the various developments made in the field of Science & Technology agreed upon a set of activities to be implemented during the next 2 years period.

Specific focus was made in supporting the visits of scientists under 3 specific mechanisms, namely, (i) Exploratory visits by Experts, (ii) visits of scientists/researchers to each other's country, and (iii) joint R&D projects. A working timetable was also drawn to effectively implement these modalities after exchange of proposals from both the sides. A series of proposals prepared from the Indian side have been forwarded for consideration of the Chinese side.

Cuba

An Indian S&T delegation led by Secretary, DST visited Cuba for the first meeting of the Indo-Cuban Joint Committee on Science & Technology in the last week of September 1999. A new Protocol on Cooperation has been concluded with Cuba for 1999-2000 which envisages organisation of two joint workshops and initiation/ continuation of 10 projects.

DPR of Korea

The Minister of Science Academy, DPR of Korea visited India during 14 to 24 November, 1999 for participating in the ESCAP Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development. During this period, the visiting Minister had discussions with secretary, DST, Secretary DBT and senior scientists of INSA on cooperation in Scince & Technology. The Minister also visited several academic and research institutions in India.

Egypt

Bilateral workshop on Advanced Materials & their processing was held at Hyderabad in November 1999. Egyptian State Secretary for Scientific Research visited India and had discussions with Secretary DST. Proposals for joint collaborative research projects are being screened.

Estonia

During the visit of Estonian President to India in February 1999, an Indo-Estonian S&T Cooperation Agreement was concluded on September 5, 1999. Subsequently, the Cabinet note on the subject was circulated as a part of constitutional procedure on Indian side on the basis of Estonian completion of necessary constitutional procedures on both the sides, the Agreement has entered into force for its implementation. He also delivered the key-note address at the 6th Ramanujan Symposium on `Algebra and Its Applications' held at the Ramanujan Institute for Advance Studies in Mathematics,University of Madras, Chennai. He delivered his talk on `Mathematical Theory of Discreet Models of Bomzman Equation' on February 24, 1999.

The joint research projects recommended for implementation under the Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology between the two countries were processed for clearances before their implementation.

Hungary

Clinical trials for application of a Hungarian drug for bone marrow transplantation were done at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The Programme of Cooperation for 1998-2000 is being reviewed. 20 joint research projects are being implemented in the areas of Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, Earth Sciences and Medicine. About 25 scientists exchanged visits from both sides.

Israel

Various activities under Indo-Israel Cooperation in Science & Technology were continued during the year. The on-going 22 joint research projects were supported and monitored. 12 scientists from India/Israel visited the laboratories of their collaborators in connection with joint research projects. Two exploratory visits from India were also supported. Three Indian young scientists were deputed to Israel on short term exchange visits.

Indo-Israel Joint Symposium on Human Genome was held in Jerusalem last year for which 6 Indian Scientists working in the area were deputed. Subsequently, as a follow up of the symposium, a call for joint research proposals on Human Genome was issued in July, 1999 against which 11 proposals were received by both the sides. Out of these, 6 research projects have been recommended for implementation.

The Indo-Israel Joint Committee of scientists was re-constituted with Secretary, DST as its Co-chairman from the Indian side and with representatives from DST,DBT, CSIR and Ministry of Information Technology as members. The 4th Meeting of the joint committee was held in the first week of November, 1999 in Jerusalem which was participated by a 3-member Indian delegation.The Committee reviewed the progress of the on-going Programme of Cooperation and a fresh work programme for the period 2000-2001 was concluded.

Italy

Three Exploratory Missions of Indian and Italian scientists in the fields of Medical Radiology and Polar science were sponsored under the Indo-Italian POC in S&T during 1999. These were instrumental in recommending the scope of new initiatives for joint research and human resource development to be implemented under the on-going POC.

A delegation led by Secretary DST visited Italy during November 22-26,1999 for broadening the scope of Indo-Italian cooperation beyond the activities approved in the Indo-Italian POC in S&T 1998-2001; reviewing the Indo-Italian scientific activities during 1999 under the aegis of the current Indo-Italian POC; concluding a new arrangement for cooperation in S&T with premier Italian universities through Inter-University Research Centre for Developing Countries (CIRPS), Rome and signing of Agreements for Enhanced S&T Cooperation between Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

Collaboration of Indian institutions and Sincrotrone Trieste in the field of physics, technology and applications of accelerated particles registered significant increase . DST and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-sponsored visit of 13 Indian scientists for performing 7 research experiments on Italian Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Elettra beamlines in 78 shifts; visit of 6 Indian scientists and engineers to Sincrotrone Trieste for 20 man months of advanced training in machine development, beamline and experimental station aspects of SR Facility as a step to strengthening Indian Synchrotron programmes; and visit of an Indian scientist for participation in Seventh International Elettra User Meeting at Trieste. In addition, implementation of 13 joint research projects has begun.

Japan

India-Japan Inter-Governmental Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology : In the sixth meeting of the bilateral India-Japan Joint Committee held in September 1999 in Tokyo, 26 projects were approved for continuation/ implementation and about 30 projects were kept in the pending list. The ongoing projects are being implemented through exchange visits of scientists. Two experiments have been conducted by Indian scientists at Spring-8 and on experiment at KEK, Japan jointly with Japanese scientists by utilising these advanced research facilities. DST is the Responsible Organisation (RO) in India for nominating Indian researchers for 8 Long-term and 8 short-term post doctoral fellowships offered by Science & Technology Agency (STA) of Japan. Applications were processed and DST's nomination for the same have been conveyed.

India-Japan Cooperative Science Council programme: The fifth meeting of the India-Japan Science Council took place in October 1999 in India. Cooperative activities in six identified areas continued through 20 joint projects, 6 joint workshops, 20 study/short-term research visits. About 40 exchange visits from each side took place for projects, workshops and exploratory purposes. In the current year, 5 Indian researchers were nominated for the Post Doctoral Fellowships and 4 researchers for the RONPAKU (Ph.D. Dissertation) of JSPS for which DST is Responsible Organisation (RO) in India. 3 joint workshops have been organised in the priority areas of Material Science and Manufacturing Science.

Kazakhstan

Academician Nagima A. Ajtkhozhina, President Kazakh Academy of Sciences visited India during July 1999.

Under the Indo-Kazakh S&T Cooperation activities an Indo-Kazakh Joint Seminar on Catalysis was organised at Almaty during September 25 to October 2, 1999. 6 Indian specialists participated in this Seminar.

Under Indo-Kazakh S&T Lectureship Series established during the 2nd Session of Indo-Kazakh S&T Cooperation activities, Academician UM Sultangazin, co-Chairman, Indo-Kazakh S&T Committee and Director, Kazakh Space Research Institute, Almaty visited the Indian research institutions in Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore during February 17 - March 3, 1999

Mexico

The S&T agreement between India and Mexico dates back to 1975. Last year a joint project between University of Hyderabad, India and Universidad Metropolitana - Izataapalapa, Mexico, was initiated. This project was continued and a new joint project was initiated between Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico. One Mexican scientist visited India and one Indian scientist visited Mexico under these projects this year.

Myanmar

A three-member delegation from Myanmar led by H.E.U. Thaung, Minister of S&T, Union of Myanmar visited India from June 23-30, 1999. The delegation visited Scientific Institutions like Science City in Calcutta, NCL, IMD, National Science Museum, and INSA, New Delhi, IISc. ISRO, Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Infosys Technology Limited Bangalore and BARC, IIT and IIGM Mumbai.

An Agreement for Cooperation in Science and Technology was concluded between India and Myanmar in New Delhi on June 24,1999. The Agreement envisages formulation of joint projects, organisation of seminars /exchange of scientists, research workers, specialists, trainees and information in the areas of mutual interest.

A Programme of Cooperation on S&T is under consideration of the Government of Myanmar and is likely to be concluded during the first meeting of Indo-Myanmar Working Group on S&T Cooperation.

Nepal

Government of Nepal have proposed that an Agreement of Cooperation in Science & Technology may be concluded between India and Nepal. In this connection, a draft Agreement is being finalised in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Minister of State, Science & Technology, Nepal visited India during November 15-20, 1999 for participating in the ESCAP Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development. During the visit, the Nepalese Minister called on Hon'ble Minister of State, Science & Technology and the Hon'ble Minister of HRD, Science & Technology and Ocean Development and had discussions regarding bilateral cooperation in Science & Technology.

Poland

The Programme of Cooperation for the period 1996-98 was extended by one more year with continuation of implementation of joint research projects in the areas of Chemistry, Liquid Crystals, Opto-electronics and Biotechnology. About 20 exchange visits of scientists took place.

Russia

Indo-Russian Cooperation in Science & Technology under the arrangements of thematic Sub-Working Groups on Agricultural Research, Building Materials, Standardisation, Meteorology, Oceanology, Medical Science, Biotechnology and INSA - RAS exchange programme have been implemented satisfactory. A new Sub-Working Group on Industrial Realisation and Commercialisation of High Technology has been created to facilitate technology transfer. Fifth meeting of Indo-Russian Working Group on Science & Technology was held in New Delhi on January 12, 2000. Working Group reviewed cooperation under these Sub-Working Groups and Integrated Long Term Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology (ILTP).

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 twelve thrust areas related to frontiers of science and technology and seven selected areas of basic research in science. Joint work in each area is coordinated by a designated senior scientist from each side called Area Coordinator. Each project is implemented by a team of experts led by two project coordinators, one each from the Indian and Russian sides. Most of the thrust area projects have high potential for their industrial realization. 93 projects have been implemented during the year. Five Russian Scientists worked in Indian laboratories for extended duration under ILTP fellowship scheme. Thematic workshops have been organised on the themes of `Micro-machining', `Self Propagating High Temperature Synthesis' "Use & Applications of plastic materials in Aerospace and electronics" "Nonferrous Extractive Metallurgy", "Trends in Chemical Sciences" and "Advanced Polymer Composites" during the year. Two thematic Indian delegations visited Russia for working out new projects of mutual interest in the areas of Mathematics and High Purity Materials. Indo-Russian Advanced Computing Research Centre is being established in Moscow. Techno-economical feasibility for creation of a facility for production of Silicon Wafers as a joint venture between Central Electronics Limited (CEL), Sahibabad and Krasnoyarsk Mining & Chemical Combine (KMCC), Zhelenogosk is being undertaken. Over 200 exchange visits of scientists from two countries have taken place cooperation in Science & Technology between India and Russia. Six issues of bi-monthly publication "Technology Route" have been brought out during the current year.

The Ninth Meeting of the ILTP Joint Council was held in New Delhi on 6 - 7 December, 1999. The Joint Council approved 131 (78 for continuation and 53 new) projects and announced several new initiatives which include training of Indian scientists/ technologists in Russia in high tech areas, training of Russian scientists/ technologists in India, establishment of joint ventures based on high technologies, enlargement of number of ILTP Fellowships (to 50 each year) for Russian scientists to work in Indian institutions, institution of 10 Fellowship per year for young Indian scientists to work in Russia, establishment of joint nodal office in Moscow with a cell at Novosibirsk to facilitate transfer of technology and various forms of S&T collaboration.

Slovenia

Proposals for joint collaborative research projects are being screened.

South Africa

Draft of a new Programme of Cooperation has been conveyed to the South African side.

Sri Lanka

The cooperation activities with Sri Lanka were expanded in scope and content during the year. Subject areas e.g. Post Harvest Technology, Oceanography, Meteorology & Space applications have been added in the list of areas for cooperation.

Five experts from Sri Lanka were trained in Accreditation of testing laboratories in Hyderabad.

A two-member delegation from Sri Lanka visited Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and had discussions with concerned scientists on cooperation activities in post-harvest technology.

A 3 member delegation from India visited Sri Lanka in connection with establishment of an accreditation system in computer training in the lines of the DOEACC scheme of India. An MOU was signed between the two sides for this activity. Subsequently, 6 Sri Lankan scientists were imparted training by DOEACC, New Delhi on the subject.

Three Sri Lankan Oceanographists/fishery scientists have been imparted training on dissemination of PFZ forecast information by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad.

A 2-member delegation from Sri Lanka visited Central Glass and Ceramics Research Institute, Calcutta in connection with joint activities on treatment of semi-precious stones.

U.K.

Cooperation in Science & Technology is being affected under UK-India Science & Technology Research Fund (UISTRF). In pursuance of an inter-governmental S&T Agreement, a Joint S&T Committee has been established with Secretary, DST as the Chairman on the Indian side. The first meeting of the Joint S&T Committee was held in London in October, 1997 and among others, a set of 12 joint R&D proposals, under the 3 agreed fields of (i) Agro-food Science and Biotechnology, (ii) Advanced Materials including Manufacturing Technology, and (iii) Telecommunications including Information Technology, were identified and are under implementation.

As a follow up of the Second Call of proposals inviting R&D projects from various research organisations, a set of 80 proposals were scrutinised after proper evaluation by both Indian and British experts. A set of 16 joint R&D projects have now been agreed upon between the two sides and are under various stages of implementation. With this, a total number of 28 R&D proposals are under operation. Under these 28 proposals, 17 Indian scientists have visited UK and 6 British scientists have visited India under different projects during this year.

Preparations are under way to invite joint proposals against the Third Call, to be implemented from 2000-2002. A suitable advertisement has been introduced for this purpose. Another 15 joint proposals are expected to be finalised, after proper evaluation by both Indian and British experts, by March 2000.

As a follow up of recommendations made at the First Joint Committee meeting, an Indo-UK Joint Seminar on Technology Management is tentatively scheduled to take place at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad during the first week of March 2000. Around 60 Indian and 10 British experts are expected to participate in this Joint Seminar.

Ukraine

Discussions have been made for revival for bilateral science & technology cooperation between the two countries. The draft of the new Programme of Cooperation is being exchanged.

U.S.A.

After some delay due to sanctions imposed by the US government, the DST-NSF S&T Cooperation Programme for Scientists and Engineers made notable progress this year. 10 new joint research proposals were supported under this programme (2 Atmospheric Sciences, 4 Engineering Sciences, 2 Life Sciences and 1 each Chemical and Mathematical Sciences).

A joint workshop was held at New Delhi during November 15-17, 1999 to finalize the work plan of the seven projects of mutual interests which are selected for implementation under a MoU on scientific research in the areas of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences signed between DST/DOS and NOAA/NASA in December, 1997.

Uzbekistan

An experimental 1.5 KW Solar Furnance Assembly was received from Uzbekistan for conducting research worm under the Indo-Uzbek S&T Cooperation activities. A 4-member Uzbek team conducted its installation, commissioning and trial runs at the International Advance Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy, Hyderabad. A new facility was thus created for experimental development of new materials.

An Indo-Uzbek Workshop on Agricultural Research was held at the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal during 15-16 November, 1999. A number of joint research activities were identified for implementation. 8 Uzbek specialists participated in the event. For speedier implementation of the recommendation of the Workshop, it was recommended that an MOU in Agriculture might be got concluded between ICAR and appropriate organisation.

Vietnam

During the year, activities under the Indo-Vietnam Programme of Cooperation in Science & Technology were stepped up according to the recommendations of the Indo-Vietnam Joint Committee on Science & Technology.

One joint project on Information Technology has been approved for implementation and 6 other joint projects are being processed for approval in consultation with concerned implementing agencies. Medical research, oceanography and atomic energy for peaceful purposes have been included as additional areas of cooperation between the two countries. Delegations from both the sides have exchanged visits in order to finalise cooperation activities on these subjects.

The Vietnamese Vice-Minister of Science, Technology & Environment led an 11 member delegation to India during the year when the delegation visited several research and academic institutions and had detailed discussions with various scientific departments on bilateral cooperation activities in Science & Technology. During the visit, a joint Working Group on Information Technology was constituted and a protocol of Cooperation in Information Technology was concluded between the Department of Electronics, India and the Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment, Vietnam.