Indo-Swiss Cooperation in S&T

Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences who is now in Switzerland leading a high-level discussed the full-range of existing cooperation in the area of science and technology as well as steps needed to strengthen this cooperation in future with Mr. Pascal Couchepin, Swiss Federal , Swiss Federal Councillior for Home Affairs (also responsible for social security, health, education, university, research and culture issues). During the visit the two sides signed the Executive Programme of Cooperation (POC) for the period 2006-2010 within the framework of the umbrella agreement on cooperation in the fields of S&T signed during the visit of the then President Couchepin to India in November 2003.

Basic and applied sciences, technology and engineering, research and development, are amongst the broad areas of Indo-Swiss joint cooperation. Seven leading Indian Institutions of S&T and EPFL and ETH have concluded an academic alliance for cooperation in various areas. The Programme of Cooperation (POC) signed during the visit envisages joint research projects specifically in life sciences, information technology and application and nano science and technology. The POC seeks to promote exchange of ideas and skills through visits by scientists and specialists, technical workshops and seminars, establishment of joint Indo-Swiss labs and centers in areas of mutual interest, training of your scientists and twinning of institutions. The discussions during the visit also covered the proposal for the establishment of Centres of Excellence especially in the areas of micro-engineering at IIT Delhi and micro-electronics at IIIT Allahabad in collaboration with EPFL. The need for developing programmes integrating research and development with industry was also emphasized. It was agreed to develop an industrial R&D programme. A roadmap in this direction will be prepared jointly by first quarter of next year. Rights to intellectual property created as a result of joint research and projects will be governed by the special provisions which form an integral part of the Executive POC.

In addition to his official engagements and discussions with his Swiss counterpart, Shri Sibal visited the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology Zurich (ETH) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). During his visit to ETH yesterday, the Minister had extensive discussions with the Prof. Gerhard Schmitt, Vice President of ETH. A presentation on a Joint Indo-Swiss Project was made by the Faculty of ETH. Mr. Charies Keliber, State Secretary for Education & Research (SER) received Mr. Sibal at EPFL today, where he held discussions with the President of Institute, Prof. Patrick Aebischer, Prof. Georgio Margaritondo, Vice President for Academic Affairs and other faculty members on the research projects presently being undertaken by the EPFL as well as the cooperative research programme between Switzerland and India.

The visit highlighted the importance that both Switzerland and India attach to S&T as a catalyst for change and for strengthening and expanding bilateral relations. With India’s vast pool of skilled manpower and Switzerland’s world renowned technical institutes, there clearly exists a synergy for broadening and deepening cooperation in this area.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : November 17, 2006