Dr Jitendra addresses India-Sweden Innovation Day, supports joint startups – Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism
NEW DELHI, Oct 27: Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said Indian-Swedish companies must support start-ups from both sides and undertake research collaboration and exchange of human resources.
Addressing the India-Sweden Innovation Day through virtual mode, Dr Jitendra Singh said that collaborative research and joint StartUps ecosystem will help build a common future by harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation for social good.
Referring to the joint projects that have significant potential to improve public health, care or care in India and Sweden, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that in 2020 the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India and Vinnova, Government of Sweden announced grant funding to implement projects aimed at to develop new solutions that, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), have significant potential to improve public health.
Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that in April 2019, India and Sweden announced the India-Sweden Industrial Research and Development Cooperation Project. The joint program co-financed by the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Sweden’s Innovation Agency – Vinnova brings together Sweden’s and India’s world-class excellence to meet challenges in the field of smart cities and clean technology as well as digitization/Internet of Things (IoT).
The minister was also happy to note that the Energy Agency earmarked an additional 25 million over 4 years for research and innovation cooperation with India.
Dr. Jitendra Singh fondly recalled that in April 2018, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sweden, India agreed to deepen cooperation through the Joint Declaration on Innovation Partnerships for a Sustainable Future. He said the partnership aims to increase the impact of bilateral cooperation in innovation, science and technology and it sets the framework for future cooperation to jointly address societal challenges including innovation-driven challenges in cross-sectoral issues with the participation of multiple stakeholders/agencies from both countries.
Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that the partnership covers several areas, including smart cities, transport and eMobility, energy, clean technology, new materials, space, circular and bio-based economy, and health and life sciences. The innovation partnership between India and Sweden bridges institutions, R&D-intensive industries and creative entrepreneurs to meet global challenges in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Sharing his thoughts with the distinguished delegates, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India has progressed well in recent years in terms of its overall performance and achievements in science and technology and that the country has reached the third position globally in terms of number of publications. India’s growth rate of publications in SCI journals is nearly 14% against the global average of 4% and India has reached 10th position in the number of patents filed, the Minister added.
In conclusion, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the bilateral diplomatic relations have flourished on the back of our like-mindedness and commitment to fair trade and globalization and added that innovation cooperation is the fastest growing element of the India-Sweden bilateral relationship.
Dr. Jitendra Singh thanked Ebba Busch, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Business and Energy for her participation and also extended his sincere thanks to the Indian Embassy in Sweden, the Innovation System Authority (Vinnova), the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, guest speakers , industry partners and participants to make this even successful.
Dr Fredrik Hörstedt, head of department for international cooperation, Vinnova, Ulf Borbos, international project manager, SISP Swedish Incubators and Science Parks, Dr Andreas Göthenberg, executive director of STINT, Dr Jyoti Sharma, Scientist F, International Cooperation Division, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Strategic Alliances Division, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India attended the India Sweden Innovation Day event.