UK Science Minister Sam Gyimah and Indian Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan today celebrated their joint ambition to tackle global challenges, through announcing another wave of UK-India research projects.
The UK and India are committed partners in the fight to transform lives through research and modern technology. To reinforce that cooperation, UK Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Sam Gyimah and Indian Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan today (Thursday 26 July) co-chaired the biennial Science and Innovation Council meeting in New Delhi.
During the Council meeting, the ministers celebrated the human impact that existing cooperation through the 600 projects supported by the Newton-Bhabha Partnership had brought, such as using technology to monitor maternal health and make water safe.
They reinforced their desire to use science and innovation to address some of the biggest challenges facing society – for example the threat of climate change, food security and energy consumption – and to harness the opportunities brought by technological advancements.
They signalled their commitment to a deeper relationship by jointly announcing four new awards worth £4.8 million under the Civil Nuclear Energy programme and seven new awards worth £10.8 million under Phase 2 of the Global research programme on health. They also renewed a Memorandum of Understanding focusing on environmental challenges and another on arts and humanities.
Speaking from Delhi, UK Science Minister Sam Gyimah said:
“The UK believes in the power of research and development to tackle global challenges and improve people’s lives for the better. India is the fastest rising research and innovation power in the world, and so I’m excited by the huge potential for enhanced collaboration as we support high-quality, high-impact research that changes lives.”
“Today’s Science and Innovation Council meeting has reinforced our strong relationship, and the announcements we have jointly made today will ensure that cooperation continues to go from strength to strength.”
The ministers also applauded India’s growing science capability and innovation-focused science policy approach. They reinforced their commitment to the India-UK Technology Partnership – announced by PMs Modi and May in April – which brings together the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and India’s core science and innovation initiatives.
Indian Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan said:
“Technology Cooperation is the key to the future. India and the UK should work on sustainable, affordable, and low energy consumption technologies”
The Council was created to strengthen the two countries’ science, technology and innovation relationship. This year’s meeting focussed on the rapid growth of the UK and India’s joint research portfolio and recognised the strength of the bilateral relationship – India is the fastest growing research power and the UK is a major, high-quality research power. Bilateral research collaboration has seen exponential growth from £1 million in 2008 to £400 million by 2021.
During his visit to India, Sam Gyimah also gave the welcome address at an Education Technology event in Delhi. He will visit research projects in Chennai funded under the Newton-Bhabha partnership.