Press Release
The India – Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research & Development Programme supported by the Government of India and Sweden was launched by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and H E Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden to India at the ‘AI for All summit’, an India-Sweden partnership event at New Delhi.
The launch of this collaboration is in line with Niti Aayog’s National Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) ‘AIforAll’ which focuses on harnessing collaborations and partnerships, and aspires to ensure prosperity for all. ‘AIforAll’ means technology leadership in AI for achieving the greater good.
Marching towards this direction, a discussion was held on using AI to address global challenges by Swedish & Indian stakeholders from public & private sector during the event.
In his keynote address, Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog talked about the vision document on ‘ÁIforAll’ and said that artificial intelligence could serve India’s needs in areas like medical and health services, agriculture, smart cities, smart industries, security infrastructure and so on.
“With proactive government initiatives, robust startup and innovation ecosystem, India offers unique solutions which cater to a diverse demography, and these can help it become the AI hub for the World. It can produce AI technologies which can be applied at scale and replicated across nations,” he added.
“India’s data diversity is a big draw for global AI implementers as data is the fuel that powers current generation AI algorithms utilising deep learning,” he further pointed out.
Prof Ashutosh Sharma stressed about a road map in AI and elaborated how DST could work with Sweden on several focus areas for India.
He mentioned that creation of data hubs, convergence of technologies and collaborations with the countries in different related areas can help leverage AI for benefit of society.
"The India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme will see Swedish and Indian innovators work together and develop solutions that benefit both sides," Klas Molin, said.
He added that India, with its strong talent pool and scale with over a billion people, will play an important role for developing solutions that can address challenges related to healthcare, transportation and public safety.
The objective of the programme is to promote, facilitate and support co-development and commercialization of innovative technologies which can benefit both India and Sweden. This Programme is being implemented by Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) on behalf of DST in India, and Vinnova in Sweden.
The launch of the Programme coincided with the launch of the 1st Request for Proposals 2019 with the following areas of focus:
1. Smart Cities and Clean Technologies, including but not limited to:
- Transport & mobility; Electrical vehicles, Autonomous vehicles, Traffic safety, Mobility as a service, Reduction in traffic congestion, Digital solutions, etc.
- Environmental technologies; Eco–system services, Clean water and air, Waste management, Renewable energy, etc.
- Circular and bio-based economy; Bio-based materials, Bio-fuels, Resource efficiency in consumption and production, Waste-to-wealth, etc.
- Energy; Reduced energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, Alternative fuels and mobile energy sources, Renewable energy, Energy storage, Resource-efficient infrastructure planning, etc.
- City planning; ICT for urban technical supply, Geodata, tools for dialogue with citizens, etc.
2. Digitalisation and Internet of Things (IoT)
Indian industry can avail funding up to INR 1.5 Cr (USD 250,000 approx.) per project for co-development of technologies with Sweden. Government’s contribution would be match funded by the Indian Industry. Similarly, the Swedish industry can avail a grant of upto 2, 500,000 Swedish Krona per project by their Government.
The deadline for submission of applications is August 19, 2019.
Ph.D scholars, working in science and technology, are the most significant contributors to the knowledge base of the country for its industrial competitiveness, academic vibrancy and technology led innovations. With effect from January 1, 2019, Central Government has enhanced the fellowship of Ph.D students and other research personnel enrolled in any area of science and technology, including Physical and Chemical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Life Sciences, Pharmacy etc. The hike in fellowship will directly benefit over 60,000 Research Fellows and also provide a template to the States to consider increase in their fellowship rates. Fellowship of the Junior Research Fellows in the first two years of Ph.D programme is increased from the current rate of Rs.25,000/- to Rs.31,000/- per month. Similarly, in the remaining tenure of Ph.D, Senior Research Fellow will get Rs. 35,000/- per month instead of the present Rs.28,000/- per month. Further, there is substantial 30-35% enhancement in the financial rewards for the scientists involved in the R&D projects as Research Associates. The top bracket of Research Associateship is fixed at Rs.54,000/-. All the research fellows are also entitled to HRA as per Central Government norms. Government has ensured that this empowering mechanism is uniformly applicable across all the fellowship granting Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Academic and Government R&D Organizations of the country. Science & Technology is a fast moving area in which a dynamic and holistic vision is required to secure the future of the nation. For the first time, the Government has also recommended a set of strong financial and academic incentives to enhance and recognize the performance of our research fellows. This will be a performance based addition to the fellowship. An Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to periodically examine all the fellowship matters that have a bearing on enhancing the value, quality and experience of doctoral research, including the quantum of fellowship. One of the recommendations is to involve Ph.D students in undergraduate teaching and managing research infrastructure during their doctoral research. This will not only widen their scope of training but also enhance their career prospects. Improving the value of Ph.D research cannot be a one-time exercise but requires constant input and efforts which the Government is fully committed to undertake.
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NEW DELHI – January 15, 2019: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati today announced the launch of two science communication initiatives, DD Science and India Science. While DD Science is an one-hour slot on Doordarshan National channel, which will be telecast Monday to Saturday from 5 pm to 6pm, India Science is an internet based science channel, which is available on any internet-enabled device, and will offer live, scheduled play and video-on-demand services.
The two science channels are the first step in creating a national science channel for India. While India Science (www.indiascience.in) is already a 24x7 presence, DD Science may also be scaled up to a full-fledged channel in the future.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “Developing a scientific temperament is a critical necessity in a country of 1.3 billion and these two science channels will drive that national objective, both through DTH as well as the internet. It would also help people to understand the benefits of science and integrate it in their daily lives.”
“India’s National Broadcaster Doordarshan, reaches out to more than 92 per cent of India’s population and would be a very impactful medium for popularisation of science. It would help the larger objective of the government to promote science among people” I&B Secretary Amit Khare pointed out.
Science Communication is a significant activity of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and DD Science on Doordarshan as well as the internet based 24x7 Science TV channel is a major step towards this. It can help to increase science awareness and inculcate scientific temper among common people, DST Secretary Professor Ashutosh Sharma emphasised.
“Doordarshan has been reaching out to people for a long time. With this collaboration, it will give us a huge boost to taking science to the people,” said CEO Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar Vempati.
Speaking at the sidelines of the launch Director General Doordarshan, Ms Supriya Sahu underlined the importance of Doordarshan and how its collaboration with Vigyan Prasar will escalate the dissemination of science content.
“Expertise of Vigyan Prasar lies in developing science content that excites a large section of audience. The two platforms can help propagation of scientific information among a large population and gravitate the youth towards science,” Director Vigyan Prasar, Dr Nakul Parashar highlighted.
The two channels will have science-based documentaries, studio-based discussions, and virtual walkthroughs of scientific institutions, interviews and short films and will be completely free to access.
The channels have been conceived and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and implemented and managed by Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous organisation of DST.
