India and Netherlands Sign MoU in Biotechnology

India and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in Biotechnology. The MOU was signed by Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister for Science and Technology and Ocean Development and Mr. Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands. The MoU aims at developing joint activities between investigators of Institutes of Higher Education of Government of Netherlands and Universities and Laboratories of India. It also envisages setting up of 30-50 Ph.D. sandwich bursary projects for Indian researchers working in the Indian research institution.

While signing the MoU, Shri Kapil Sibal said that both the countries have decided to identify key areas of cooperation and will prepare a road map for the next one year. Mr. Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, Deputy Prime Minister of the Netharlands emphasized the need for biotechnological solutions for food security and health care. He hoped that this bilateral cooperation will prove beneficial for public as well as private sector.

The joint activities shall be aimed at developing tailor made biotechnology products, processes, techniques and policy matters based on local consultation and local needs involving joint research and development activities between India and Netherlands. The specific areas of cooperation include agriculture and food biotechnology and medical biotechnology as well as cross cutting biotechnology policy issues. Projects will be developed in the areas of molecular biology, plant breeding, and food processing technology, food nutrition, bioorganic chemistry, microbiology, life-science developments, intellectual property rights, bio-safety and others. Investigators from both countries shall be invited to submit pre-proposals for initiating bilateral projects in the coming months. First round of projects proposals selected based on peer-review and the recommendations of a Joint Action Committee shall be implemented in the financial year 2005-06.

Source : Ministry of Science & Technology
Date : October 25, 2005