India and Nepal Enhance Cooperation with New Science and Technology Agreement
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Synopsis
India and Nepal have forged a new science and technology partnership to enhance collaboration, as announced by the Ministry of Science & Technology. The MoU aims to revitalize ties, focusing on various scientific fields and joint research projects.
Key Takeaways
- New partnership between India and Nepal in science and technology.
- MoU signed to boost bilateral collaboration.
- Focus on various areas including biological sciences and material sciences.
- Opportunity for joint research projects and knowledge exchange.
- Commitment to structured collaboration through working groups.
New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) India and Nepal have strengthened their relationship through a new science and technology partnership, as announced by the Ministry of Science & Technology on Wednesday.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) to create a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing bilateral scientific and technological cooperation.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG of CSIR, expressed, “CSIR is eager to fortify its technology and capacity-building collaborations with Nepal via NAST.”
She emphasized the vast untapped potential for collaboration across various sectors and highlighted the need to swiftly implement the MoU with a focused action plan.
This MoU aims to revitalize and extend the collaboration that began in 1994 between CSIR and RONAST (now NAST), which initially sought to advance joint research and technological development in shared interests.
The enhanced partnership will involve a range of collaborative endeavors, including the exchange of scientific data, research materials, and scientists, as well as organizing joint seminars, workshops, and training initiatives in science and technology. It will also facilitate joint research projects, access to major research facilities, technology partnerships, and institutional twinning for capacity building.
The Ministry has indicated that the collaboration will target agreed areas such as biological sciences, food science and technology, water and environmental technologies, fuel and mining sciences, and metallurgy.
Furthermore, the two nations will collaborate in material sciences, encompassing glass, ceramics, biomaterials, nanotechnology, alternative energy, leather and footwear technologies, metrology, polymer sciences, and drug discovery.
Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice-Chancellor of NAST, reaffirmed NAST’s dedication to this partnership, stating, “This MoU and today's discussions will pave the way for a reinforced and lasting science and technology relationship between our two nations.” He also suggested forming subject-specific working groups to promote structured collaboration in priority sectors.
This agreement heralds a new chapter in Indo-Nepal scientific collaboration, creating fresh opportunities for joint research and knowledge exchange between the two countries.
