Recently held ‘India-UK virtual summit’ strengthens ‘Science, Technology and Innovation’ (STI) cooperation.

During the summit, the Prime ministers of India and UK have agreed on a common vision of a new and transformational Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the UK and India, and adopted an ambitious India-UK Roadmap to 2030 to steer cooperation for the next 10 years.

Key points to strengthen STI cooperation between two countries are:

1. Enhance cooperation between India and the UK on strengthening the role of women in STEMM at schools, universities, and research institutions through collaboration on new initiatives like Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) project.
2. Develop collaborations between Industry, Academia and the Government to foster innovation among school students through initiatives like the India Innovation Competency Enhancement Program (IICEP).
3. Forge partnership across the pipeline of research and innovation activity, from basic research to applied and interdisciplinary research.
4. Work together to share knowledge and expertise regarding artificial intelligence, scientific support to policies and regulatory aspects including ethics, and promote a dialogue in research and innovation.
5. Grow programmes such as the Fast Track Start-Up Fund to nurture innovation led, sustainable growth and jobs, and tech solutions that benefit both countries.

International STI Cooperation of India:

Under Bilateral Cooperation, India has STI cooperation Agreements with 83 countries. 

• During the recent years, the cooperation has strengthened significantly with Australia, Canada, EU, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Russia, UK and USA. 
• Cooperation with African countries has also been strengthened through India Africa S&T Initiative. 
• The soft prowess of S&T has been leveraged to engage with several countries under India’s Act East policy and with some neighboring countries.

The International Cooperation Division (IC Division) of DST has the mandated responsibility of: 

1. Negotiating, concluding and implementing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Agreements between India and other countries; 
2. Providing interventions on STI aspects in international forums. 

The International Cooperation in STI is realized through: 

1. Bilateral Cooperation with developed and developing countries;
2. Multilateral & Regional Cooperation; and
3. Thematic Cooperation.

Key functions of IC Division:

Some of the major functions of IC Division related to forging India’s regional and multilateral partnerships in Science, Technology and Innovation being performed are as below:

• Negotiation, conclusion, implementation and monitoring of India’s international regional and multilateral S&T cooperation agreements/ frameworks and related S&T Program of Cooperation’s (India’s S&T Cooperation with EU, ASEAN, BRICS, IBSA, SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEM, EAS);
• India’s engagements vis-à-vis S&T aspects of UN and other international organizations (India’s S&T engagements with NAM S&T Centre, UNESCO-TWAS-ICTP, UNCSTD, OECD, IOR-ARC, G-20);

• Indian perspectives at S & T Ministerial Multilateral Platforms and its spin offs (Carnegie Group Meetings and its spin offs like GSO-GRI, Science and Technology for Society Forum).

Under Thematic Cooperation, IC Division is partnering in the following International programs-

1. International Solar Alliance
2. Mission Innovation
3. International AIDS Vaccine Initiative etc
4. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

Initiative for STI cooperation:

The Government of India has launched Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) 2020, a holistic and pragmatic policy dedicated to Science, technology, and most importantly innovation. 

• The policy aims to reorient Science Technology & Innovation (STI) in terms of priorities, sectoral focus, and strategies.
• The STIP 2020 policy is initiated jointly by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (Office of PSA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).