Russia and India strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology
Russian and Indian studies, representatives of universities and specialized associations took part in the 12th association of the Russian-Indian working group on science and technology, which was held online. The co-chairs of the meeting were Director of the Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Alexander Tolparov and Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of the Republic of India Sanjeev Kumar Varshni.
The members of the working group discussed the implementation of the Interdepartmental Roadmap for Russian-Indian Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation, prepared by decision of the meeting. The parties exchanged information on such advanced research as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber-physical systems, oceanography, medical sciences, fundamental and applied physics.
The Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences is a researcher of Indian observations to work at the Baksan Neutrino Observatory in the Elbrus region and deep-sea neutrino sounding “Baikal-GVD”, and the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences – to design a joint station for experimental space geodesy.
The participation of specialists from India in the activities of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and projects of international multidisciplinary research programs based on large research infrastructures, including the Superconducting Collider Complex and NICA research, is growing.
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University presented its initiatives to develop IT cooperation with the Indian assembly. It is proposed to share the capabilities of the International Research Center “Advanced Digital Technologies”, which was created in 2020 on the basis of the Polytechnic University in a consortium with discovery by other universities. In addition, the leadership of the university is ready to create and use a joint “Russian-Indian technological innovation goal” with the involvement of external technological projects.
The parties especially noted the grant cooperation between the two countries. Since 2016, the Russian Investment Fund has been united with Indian associations of the Department of Science and united by competitive selection technologies to support international Russian-Indian research teams. During this time, the parties in total supported 63 projects worth about 1.6 billion rubles. As a result of these projects, about 1000 publications appeared in reputable scientific journals.
In October 2022, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of India conducted the next selection, the results of which will be summed up in August 2023. It is planned to support at least 5 projects with a implementation period of 2023-2025, the budget will be 10 million rubles per project per year. During the competition, 30 applications were received from the Russian side and 48 from the Indian side. The national examination of applications is currently underway.
A high-level working group of institutional relations between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Indian Council for Heavy and Industrial Research, as well as their subordinate scientific organizations. Partners interact through webinars, meetings, conferences and visits.
The participants also pay special attention to the fruitful cooperation between Russia and India in many external formats: G20, BRICS, SCO. Interaction within the framework of this association on many international issues, including science, technology and innovation policy, allows Russia and India to actively promote joint priorities.
The Russian-Indian Working Group on Science and Technology operates within the framework of the Interstate Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation.